A study of the Trudeau years in Canada from several journalist contributors. These are honest pieces, but it's safe to say all respected Trudeau whether they agreed with him or not. Excellent writing, balanced coverage, this is Trudeau in a nutshell.

Alison Gordon wrote: "Early in his political life, Trudeau was asked how badly he wanted to be prime minister. "Not badly at all," he said at the time, quoting Plato to the effect that people who wanted power badly were the wrong people to give it to. It was a disingenuous response, perhaps, but the voters of Canada bought it, over and over again. The man who was our most unlikely politician went on to become the longest-serving elected head of his government. An no matter what he did at home, he never embarrassed us abroad, which is more than you can say for any prime minister since."

One of my favourite journalists, Peter Gzowski wrote: "He was... as private at the Sphinx, apparently incapable of small talk, intolerant of pretense or stupidity, certain of his own opinions. But his mind was as penetrating as an épée and his erudition as formidable as a broadsword. He seemed to relish being challenged, provided you had thought your way through your question, and to delight in the Jesuitical adroitness of his response. As someone once said of Bobby Orr at his peak in the NHL, "he should play in a higher league."" ( )

First line:

~ The story has almost assumed the quality of a hallowed myth ~

This is a coffee table picture book that I gave to my mother many years ago and inherited it back from her when she passed away. I finally got it read and really enjoyed looking through it and remembering when. More than just pictures, it has essays written by prominent Canadian journalists etc.

Because of my commitment through LT I read every caption and every word in the book whereas in the past I would have just looked at the pictures.

Pierre Eliot Trudeau was my first 'crush'. I had his poster on the back of my bedroom door, not a movie star or a musician. I adored him and I have been a staunch Liberal ever since.

These photos took me through his early years, his rise to political life and prime minister and his post political career.

It was a blast from the past. Great fun to see the history that I lived. ( )

Worth it to read and view because the essays by a group of distinguished Canadian writers (e.g.: J. J. Granatstein, Mordecai Richler, and others) and archival photographs that you don't frequently see.
I found it for a greatly reduced price at my local used book store and I feel that the quality was completely worth the money invested.