The Hidden Pierre Elliott Trudeau: The Faith Behind the Politics

by John English (Editor), Richard Gwyn (Editor), P. Whitney Lackenbauer (Editor)

Pierre Elliott Trudeau continues to hold a mysterious and spellbinding fascination for Canadians. The Hidden Pierre Trudeau is an extraordinary look at the reverence that lay "hidden" behind the famous irreverence. This collection of personal memories and astute analysis examines our former prime minister's spirituality and theolgy. It shows how his private faith influenced public policy and the "public" man.

The wide range of contributors includes friends, political colleagues, and journalists: Michael Valpy, John Turner, Bruce Powe, Tom Axwothy, Allan MacEachen, John Fraser, Richard Cote, David Seljak, Jean-Philippe Warren, Nancy Southam, Jacques Monet, Andrew Thompson, Solange Lefebve, Marc Nadeau, Ron Graham, Michael Higgins, Bernard Daly, John Godfrey, Stephen Clarkson.

Topics include: Trudeau's Spiritual Pilgrimages; Religion and Politics in Quebec; The Man and His Beliefs; Trudeau and the "Bedrooms of the Nation," Faith, Politics and Personal Experience.

Genres: History, Biography, Canada, Nonfiction

200 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 2004

Reviews

[Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

A niche read, definitely; but of great value to those who have memories of the Trudeau years in Canada. One's rating, I think will depend on one's appreciation of the personal Trudeau and the public Trudeau. These essays and speeches are the result of a conference dealing with PET and his faith; they also provide perspective into Canadian political and social context of the 1960s and 1970s. The contributors to this volume each provide a perspective based on their own personal background and their own relationship with Trudeau. They are a mix of academic and anecdotal. Bruce W. Powe, in conclusion, comes closest to analysis of the non-subjective type. My favourite chapters are the memories of Allan McEachen and an excellent deep dive by Andrew Thompson into the issues surrounding "the bedrooms of the nation" issue.

[Gary Patton · Rating 1 out of 5]

If you wish to read a politically-correct whitewash of a Liberal Canadian Prime Minister of Canada, whose friends argue in their testimonials that he was a great Catholic and a closet Christian, don't miss this book.

A Jesus Follower might wonder how someone responsible for the number of anti-family and unBiblical travesties, which Mr. Trudeau shepherded into Canadian law, could be described as a Christian? But, only God knows.

GaryFPatton
(2013-10-11 gfp '42™)