Paul Martin: The Power of Ambition

Agar Adamson is the author of Letters of Agar Adamson, 1914–19 and former chair of the Department of Political Science at Acadia University in Nova Scotia.

John Gray argues that in order to understand Paul Martin and his
ambition to be prime minister, you have to understand Martin’s father
and his failure to become Liberal leader. To what extent is Martin’s
ambition based on his desire to win for his father’s sake? Gray only
partially answers that question, though he does present evidence of the
strong bond between father and son, and of the influence of the former
on the latter’s political evolution.

Gray’s book includes a chapter on the women in Martin’s life,
including his wife, mother, and sister. Other chapters deal with the
deficit and with Martin’s philosophical approach to government
finances and social policy. Martin was a policy wonk long before he
entered electoral politics. On the day he announced his retirement, Jean
Chrétien raised the question, is Martin more interested in policy than
politics? Of course, Gray covers “The Grand Alliance” between Martin
and Chrétien, as well as the animosity between the two men. His
discussion of the events of September 11, 2001, gives the reader
considerable insight into Martin’s internationalism, which is
contrasted with Chrétien’s localism.

Paul Martin: The Power of Ambition combines public policy analysis and
political history. It presents a largely positive portrait of Martin,
but in the end leaves the reader still uncertain as to what exactly
makes him tick.