British Columbia's fabled capital city has never looked better than in this multi-faceted photo essay, history and travel guide by two of the area's most talented long-time residents. Susan Mayse's compelling narrative is masterfully illustrated by photographer Chris Cheadle's vibrant images. With the authors' guidance, the reader explores Victoria's famous landmarks, from the Butchart Gardens to the possibly haunted Empress Hotel to the undoubtedly haunted Ross Bay Cemetery. Victoria: Crown Jewel of British Columbia moves from Victoria's Inner Harbour -- the main point of arrival for visitors for 165 years -- to the surrounding areas including Port Renfrew on the wild west coast, the forested slopes of Malahat Ridge and the rolling farmlands of the Saanich Peninsula. It also travels backward through time from the Victoria of today to the area's diverse and sometimes bizarre history, and explores the future as the city grapples with environmental sustainability amidst increasing population pressures. Souvenir book, history and contemporary guide, Victoria is a volume that will appeal to residents and visitors alike. Susan Mayse is a fourth generation Vancouver Islander who grew up on stories of the mining towns of Cumberland, Bevan, Nanaimo, and Wellington. She has written for many national and international publications including The Daily Mail , The Toronto Star , and The Malahat Review . She is also the author of a prizewinning novel, Merlin's Web and Ginger: The Life and Death of Albert Goodwin , a BC Bestseller and winner of the Arthur Ellis Award for True Crime and the Edna Staebler Award for Creative Non-Fiction. She is the daughter of the late journalist and author Arthur Mayse. Chris Cheadle has photographed and written three books celebrating the magnificent natural history of British Columbia. He has contributed to Getty Images and worked on assignment for clients like Lonely Planet in various far-flung regions of the world. Chris is currently the managing director of All Canada Photos, which represents many of Canada's most accomplished photographers.