Pierre: Colleagues and Friends Talk about the Trudeau They Knew

by Nancy Southam (Editor)

#1 national bestsellerWhen Pierre Elliott Trudeau died in 2000, the outpouring of emotion was extraordinary. Thousands of people across Canada — and all over the world — mourned the loss of one of our greatest prime ministers, a man who touched the hearts and challenged the minds of a nation. In this book, Trudeau’s close friend Nancy Southam has gathered more than 140 reminiscences and anecdotal narratives from journalists, former world leaders, politicians who battled and debated him, his sons’ friends, RCMP bodyguards, girlfriends, canoeing buddies, and household staff. Among the contributors are luminaries as diverse as Conrad Black, Jean Chrétien, Leonard Cohen, John Kenneth Galbraith, Ivan Head, Jacques Hébert, Karen Kain, Margot Kidder, Harrison McCain, Toni Onley, Gordon Pinsent, Christopher Plummer, Roy Romanow, Ed Schreyer, and Barbra Streisand. With the blessing of his sons, Justin and Sacha, Southam has put together a remarkably transparent account of a deeply private person that is funny, honest, affectionate, and illuminating.

Genres: Politics, Nonfiction, Biography

397 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 8, 2005

Reviews

[Catherine Claridge · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed getting to know this fascinating political figure better through the varied accounts of his friends, colleagues and political connections. I've been enthralled by PET since finding out as a child that we had the same birthday. As a fellow Libra I deeply admire his strong desire for a just society, and I'm extremely proud of how he forever changed our county for the better with his Charter of Rights and Freedoms. He was a passionate father, outdoorsman, and as an intellectual he dearly loved a good debate!

[Daniel Kukwa · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's not the most substantial book, especially as some of the memories and anecdotes are so well known, they verge on cliche. But it's still suffused with a golden glow of nostalgia, and there are a number of gems that will make you laugh and sigh with equal measure.

[Rosemarie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing biography based on anecdotes of people who knew or interacted with Canada's most colorful prime minister to date. Expanded my horizons of non-US politicians.

[Sami · Rating 4 out of 5]

A behind the scenes of a very private and down-to-earth man who really loved Canada.

[Rocklee · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don't read 'serious' books very often anymore, but I loved this. Nancy Southam is easy to read.

[Josh Merlin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful collection of stories that give insight into a man that many of us know 'of' but don't understand a fraction of who he truly was.

This style of biographical book is wonderful, as you get little tidbits about the person that gives the reader a feeling of being invited into special insights that only a select few know. The editor did a wonderful job cultivating the list of contributors to ensure the perfect balance of different aspects of the man's life (faith, family, work, friends).

[Lezley · Rating 4 out of 5]

These are troubled times! How healing it is to look back at the legacy of Pierre Elliot Trudeau through the eyes of his friends and colleagues and even some of his opponents. Equality, justice, fairness, sharing the wealth were his vision of a Just Canada.
“We peer so suspiciously at each other that we cannot see that we Canadians are standing on the mountaintop of human wealth, freedom and privilege.” Pierre Trudeau

[Jean-François Lisée · Rating 3 out of 5]

Excellente collection de récits et souvenirs sur l'ex PM
j'ai lu la version française, chez Fides, Trudeau tel que nous l'avons connu