Andrew John Bayly Johnston is a Canadian historian and writer. He is the author of three novels of historical fiction as well as of books and articles on the History of Atlantic Canada. Johnston is originally from Truro, Nova Scotia and currently lives in Halifax.
Johnston's Endgame 1758 won a Clio award from the Canadian Historical Association and was short-listed for a Dartmouth Book Award. His work is closely associated with the history of the Fortress of Louisbourg. In recognition of his body of work on that national historic site of Canada, the Government of France made Johnston a chevalier of the Ordre des Palmes académiques.
Johnston had a long career as a historian with Parks Canada.
His historical account Ni'n na L'nu: The Mi'kmaq of Prince Edward Island won the "best Atlantic-published" book, the PEI Book Award for non-fiction and a PEI Heritage Award. He has also developed the story-lines and written the scripts for exhibits in Atlantic Canada. Since 2009 he has published three novels Thomas, A Secret Life (2012), The Maze (2014) and Crossings (2015) inspired by the historical figure of Thomas Pichon (1700–1781). Atlantic Books Today described Johnston as "a natural to write this story." The review of Thomas in The Antigonish Review stated: "This is a fine novel, one that strikes just the right balance between fact and fiction." As for The Maze, Paul W. Bennett writes: "Taking on historical fiction and imaginatively recreating the inner life of one of Canada's most controversial early historical figures would be beyond the reach of most scholars. A. J. B. Johnston ... is more than equal to that challenge." The reviewer in the Nashwaak Review wrote: “Pichon is as real and developed a character as you will find anywhere … both believable and impressive.”
Johnston's research archives are deposited at the Beaton Institute of the Cape Breton University.
In February and March 2017, Johnston was Writer-in-Residence at Wolff Cottage (the Center for the Writing Arts) in Fairhope, Alabama.
Johnston, A.J.B. (2015). Crossings, A Thomas Pichon Novel. Sydney: Cape Breton University Press. ISBN 978-1-77206-020-1. EPUB 978-1-77206-022-5, Kindle 978-1-77206-023-2, Web pdf 978-1-77206-021-8Johnston, A.J.B. (2014). The Maze, A Thomas Pichon Novel. Sydney: Cape Breton University Press. ISBN 978-1-897009-76-5. EPUB 978-1-927492-71-0, MOBI 978-1-927492-72-7Johnston, A.J.B. (2012). Thomas, A Secret Life. Sydney: Cape Breton University Press. ISBN 978-1-897009-74-1. EPUB 978-1-897009-89-5, MOBI 978-1-897009-90-1Current English editions and re-prints
Johnston, A.J.B.; LeBlanc, Ronnie-Gilles (2015). Grand Pré, Landscape for the World. Halifax: Nimbus Publishing. ISBN 978-1-771082-71-6. Johnston, A.J.B. (2013). Louisbourg: Past, Present, Future. Halifax: Nimbus Publishing. ISBN 978-1-771080-52-1. Johnston, A.J.B.; Francis, Jesse (2013). Ni'n na L'nu: The Mi'kmaq of Prince Edward Island. Charlottetown: Acorn Press. ISBN 978-1-894838-93-1. Johnston, A.J.B. (2007). Endgame 1758. The Promise, the Glory and the Despair of Louisbourg's Final Decade. Lincoln: University of Nebraska Press. ISBN 978-1-897009-20-8. (Canada), ISBN 978-0-8032-6009-2 (USA)Johnston, A.J.B. (2004). Storied Shores: St. Peter's, Isle Madame and Chapel Island in the 17th and 18th Centuries. Sydney: University College of Cape Breton Press. ISBN 978-1-897009-00-0. Johnston, A.J.B.; Kerr, W.P. (2004). Grand-Pré, Heart of Acadie. Halifax: Nimbus Publishing. ISBN 978-1-55109-479-3. Johnston, A.J.B. (2001). Control & Order: The Evolution of french Colonial Louisbourg, 1713–1758. East Lansing: Michigan State University Press. ISBN 0-87013-570-8. Johnston, A.J.B. (1996). Life and Religion at Louisbourg, 1713–1758. Montreal & Kingston: McGill-Queens University Press. ISBN 0-7735-1525-9. Paperback EditionCampbell, Brian; Johnston, A.J.B. (1995). Tracks across the Landscape: A Commemorative History of the S&L Railway. Sydney: University College of Cape Breton Press. ISBN 0-920336-64-7. Johnston, A.J.B.; Donovan, Kenneth; Balcom, B.A.; Storm, Alex (2004) [1991]. Louisbourg, An 18th-Century Town. Halifax: Nimbus Publishing. ISBN 978-0-921054-88-7. Johnston, A.J.B.; Reardon, Chris (photography) (1997). Louisbourg: The Phoenix Fortress. Halifax: Nimbus Publishing. ISBN 0-921054-35-1. Paperback EditionDunton, Hope; Johnston, A.J.B. (1986). From the Hearth: Recipes from the World of 18th-Century Louisbourg. Sydney: University College of Cape Breton. ISBN 0-920336-01-9. Johnston, A.J.B. (2002) [1983]. The Summer of 1744, A Portrait of Life in 18th-Century Louisbourg. Ottawa: Parks Canada. ISBN 0-660-18786-8. Johnston, A.J.B. (1981). Defending Halifax: Ordnance, 1825–1906. Ottawa: Parks Canada. ISBN 0-660-10842-9. Johnston, A.J.B. (1984). Life and Religion at Louisbourg, 1713–1758. Montreal & Kingston: McGill-Queens University Press. ISBN 0-7735-0427-3. Hardcover EditionJohnston, A.J.B.; Reardon, Chris (photography) (1990). Louisbourg: The Phoenix Fortress. Halifax: Nimbus Publishing. ISBN 0-921054-51-3. Hardcover EditionNon-English editions and translations
Johnston, A.J.B.; Francis, Jesse (2014). Ni'n na L'nu : Les Mi'kmaq de l'île-de-Prince-Édouard. Tracadie-Sheila: La Grande Marée. ISBN 978-2-349-72315-4. Johnston, A.J.B.; Buttiens, Michel (tr) (2011). 1758 : La finale. Promesses, splendeur et déolation de la dernière décennie de Louisbourg. Québec: Les Presses de l'Université Laval. ISBN 978-2-7637-9060-2. ISBN 9782763710600Johnston, A.J.B.; Kerr, W.P.; Filion, Sylvain (tr) (2004). Grand-Pré, Coeur de l'Acadie. Halifax: Nimbus Publishing. ISBN 978-1-551094-91-5. Johnston, A.J.B. (1988). La religion dans la vie à Louisbourg (1713–1758). Ottawa: Environnement Canada. ISBN 0-660-92278-9. Johnston, A.J.B.; Reardon, Chris (photography); Pichette, Robert (tr.) (1997). Louisbourg, Reflets d'une époque. Halifax: Nimbus Publishing. ISBN 1-55109-210-7. Paperback EditionJohnston, A.J.B.; Reardon, Chris (photography); Pichette, Robert (tr.) (1997). Louisbourg, Reflets d'une époque. Halifax: Nimbus Publishing. ISBN 1-55109-206-9. Hardcover EditionJohnston, A.J.B. (2002) [1983]. L'été de 1744: La vie quotidienne à Louisbourg au XVIIIe siècle. Ottawa: Parcs Canada. ISBN 0-660-96662-X. Johnston, A.J.B. (1981). La défense d'Halifax : Artillerie, 1825–1906. Ottawa: Parcs Canada. ISBN 9780660906645. 