René Lévesque

Extraordinary Canadians

by Daniel Poliquin

He was the most unlikely leader: straightforward, uninterested in personal wealth, unprepossessing. Yet his charisma affected even those who disliked his political aim to achieve independence for Quebec. René Lévesque was born into a Quebec dominated by the Catholic Church, rural values, and Anglophone control of business. He was part of the 1960s Quiet Revolution that saw the province become a secular society bent on economic success and, for some, political independence. A journalist, war reporter, and television host, Lévesque channelled his communication skills into a political career that encompassed the most tumultuous periods in Canadian history. As founder of the Parti Québécois, he held a close referendum in 1980 that proved wrenching for Canadian unity and permanently altered the country's political landscape. Acclaimed novelist and translator Daniel Poliquin offers a unique portrait of Lévesque the man and politician, at once affectionate, critical, and incisive.

Genres: Politics, Canada, Biography, History, Nonfiction

240 pages, Hardcover

First published September 22, 2009

About the author

Daniel Poliquin is a Canadian novelist and translator. He has translated works of many Canadian writers into French, including David Homel, Douglas Glover, and Mordecai Richler. He lives in Ottawa, Ontario.

Daniel Poliquin est écrivain et traducteur littéraire. Il est né le 18 décembre 1953 à Ottawa.

Ses romans les plus connus sont La côte de sable (1990), L’Écureuil noir (1994), L’homme de paille (prix Trillium 1998) et La Kermesse. Son essai Le Roman colonial (en anglais, In the Name of the Father) lui a valu en 2002 le prix Shaughnessy-Cohen qui couronne le meilleur ouvrage à caractère politique au Canada.

Il a traduit de nombreux auteurs de langue anglaise, entre autres, Jack Kerouac, Mordecai Richler, Matt Cohen, W.O. Mitchell et Douglas Glover.

La version anglaise de La Kermesse, intitulée A Secret Between Us, était finaliste au Giller Prize 2007, le prix littéraire le plus prestigieux du Canada anglais.

Daniel Poliquin est docteur ès lettres, chevalier de l’Ordre de la Pléiade, médaillé du Jubilé de la Reine Élisabeth, membre de l’Ordre du Canada, docteur honoris causa de l’Université d’Ottawa et chevalier de l’Ordre des arts et lettres de la République française.

Reviews

[Margarita · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a clearly written introductory look at René Levesque’s political life and is an excellent starting point for those interested in the political landscape of the 60s through to the mid-80s. The only drawback is that it skims the surface of Levesque’s achievements (and failures) without going into enough detail. Highly recommended as an introductory read only.

[Ty Bradley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sooo good. I was fascinated to learn about how the PQ followed societal currents to go from nothing to being a dominant party. I love the ambition and flair of politicians of this time. They weren’t afraid to think big and try new things. I’ve been enamoured by Levesque’s personality for a while, so I was excited to learn more about his background. I am embarrassed by how much I didn’t know about the development of the sovereignty movement, especially the important differences of perspectives in the big tent.

What an amazing man. He had a true love of democracy and humanity. The PQ did amazing work in government. A central figure in the development of Canada as we know it.

[Joel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very easy read but littered with the author's own political opinions. I would have preferred a more neutral approach. However, it's still a good, quick overview of Lévesque's political life.

[Jason Reese · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fascinating subject; atrocious author.

[Vince · Rating 3 out of 5]

A competent brief survey of Levesque's career, influence, and times. Three stars.

[Tyler · Rating 3 out of 5]

Much to the chagrin of the remaining and aging diehard separatists, Lévesque is still in charge of the PQ. To wit, every time a PQ leadership contender pushes for independence pure and simple, that person is either not elected or, if elected, has to backtrack at lightning speed when polls show that he or she is heading for political oblivion. And every PQ leader has to sing the praises of the founding father to acquire any semblance of legitimacy.

[Paula Dembeck · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an insightful, well balanced introduction to the life of Rene Levesque, the late premiere of Quebec and the founder of the Parti Quebcois. The slim volume forms part of Penguin's Extraordinary Canadians Series edited by John Ralston Saul.

Levesque was born in Campbellton New Brunswick and grew up in New Carlisle in the Gaspe during the 30s. Life was good, his father was a lawyer and his family was prosperous when compared with many other families living in the peninsula. New Carlisle is predominately an English community and Levesque received his early education in English, an advantage not shared by many of that time and one that would serve him well in later life.

Expelled from law school, and rejected when he applied to Radio Canada for a job, he ended up working as an announcer/translator for the American Armed Forces Network, spending the last years of WW11 in Europe. He began life as a public figure first as a radio journalist and later as the province's first French TV star on Pointe de Mire (Focal Point) where he educated his audience about the world outside Quebec in French, a language they could understand. Later, a producer's strike at Radio Canada and Diefenbaker's refusal to settle it, deepened his continuing distrust of federalism and its disinterest in French cultural life.

Levesque was first elected as a member of the Lesage government during the "quiet revolution" of the 60s. As Minister of Natural Resources, he nationalized electricity in the province under the corporation of Hydro Quebec, giving the Quebecois control over their own natural resources for the first time.

In October of 1968, he achieved something no one else had up to this time been able to do: he coalesced all the Quebec nationalist parties into one party called the Parti Quebecois. Poliquin documents Levesque's responses to critical events in Quebec life - the October crisis of 1970, the FLQ kidnappings, the murder of Pierre Laporte, and the street riots.

When the PQ defeated the Liberal Party and came to power in 1976, Levesque shepherded Bill 101 through the National Assembly to ensure the predominance of French language. Later in 1980, when the referendum on Quebec sovereignty was defeated, Levesque's downhill seemed to begin, marked with squabbling and infighting among the party's leaders. The 1981 constitutional crisis, in which Levesque was outmanoeuvered by Trudeau was another nail in the coffin and Trudeau, as Prime Minister was successful in repatriating the constitution along with a Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

This is an excellent introduction to the man and politician Rene Levesque. It is presents a fair, balanced and unadulterated picture of Levesque with no sympathy for his foibles or failings. He is praised for his commitment to democracy, moderation and for the good government legislation enacted during his tenure. Likewise he is criticized for his dishonesty in wording a 47 word complicated and confusing question he handed to the Quebec people in the referendum on sovereignty in 1980, knowing a simple yes/no question would be defeated. He is presented at times like the "eternal adolescent" ready to stretch the truth when need be, a tendency he never outgrew. He was a fervent nationalist but staunchly democratic, and although reviled by many English Canadians who felt he would destroy Canada, he was loved by many, even his enemies.

As someone who lived through much of this time period, I found this an excellent book. Poliquin's ability to distill all the information gathered from his considerable research and present it in such a concise and readable manner is a real achievement.

[Jeffrey Sylvester · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought it was great. It was a little more political play-by-play than the rest of the series but you realize his aim was social democracy, and not necessarily nationalism. The more I learn about the French relationship to Anglo-phone Canada, the more I empathize with this man and others like him. Worth the read.

[Natacha Gb · Rating 5 out of 5]

I quite enjoyed this brief introduction. Excellent book for anyone who is curious about René Lévesque.

[David Chabot · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent read, although a bit short. The focus is more on the personnality of Levesque and his ever growing clash with P.E. Trudeau than anything else, but it serves as an excellent wrap up of the man and his legacy.