The Essential Trudeau

J.L. Granatstein, distinguished research professor emeritus of history
at York University, is the author of Who Killed Canadian History?, and
co-author of The Canadian 100: The 100 Most Influential Canadians of the
20th Century and the Dictionary of Canad

Pierre Trudeau continues to fascinate his compatriots, and the
“Trudeau industry” (in which this reviewer has some part) continues
to churn out books. This little reader, consisting of snippets of
Trudeau’s writings and speeches and organized by theme, has been ably
edited and collected by Ron Graham. Trudeau himself has added occasional
introductions where he smites his familiar foes yet again, adding or
updating comments.

The result, like all snippet volumes, is not wholly satisfying, but
Trudeau is never dull, and there is much here to ponder on subjects such
as Quebec nationalism, Canadian patriotism, bilingualism, and
multiculturalism. Trudeau operated from a consistent core of ideas and,
if he sometimes took tactical positions or if he altered course as
events demanded, he nonetheless held to his beliefs. That he had beliefs
puts him in a small group of political leaders; that he held to them
makes him all but unique in our political history, and that is likely
why Canadians still find Trudeau either infuriating or admirable.