Preston Manning: The Roots of Reform

Fritz Pannekoek is Director, Historic Sites and Archives Service,
Alberta Community Development, and the author of A Snug Little Flock:
The Social Origins of the Riel Resistance of 1869–70.

This account of Preston Manning’s public and private life, from his
early youth to his becoming leader of the Opposition, is largely
sympathetic to its subject. Manning’s dislike of William Aberhart, and
his worship of American populism, are recurring themes. Dabbs provides
evidence to suggest that Manning has used the Reform Party to achieve a
personal vision rather than a populist one.

The interviews with Manning will appeal to political junkies. Those
looking for a serious analysis of Manning’s political philosophy and
the inner workings of his party will be disappointed. A final quibble:
W.L. Morton’s book on Social Credit, which is cited in the
bibliography, will be impossible to find, since he never wrote one.