Synopses & Reviews
Synopsis
In 1968, Canadians dared to take a chance on a new kind of politician. Pierre Trudeau became the leader of the Liberal Party in April and two months later won the federal election. His meteoric rise to power was driven by Trudeaumania, an explosive mix of passion and fear fueled by media hype and nationalist ambition. This book traces what happened when the fabled spirit of the sixties met the excitement of the Centennial and Expo 67. Canadians wanted to modernize their nation, differentiate it from the US, and defuse Quebec separatism. Far from being a sixties crazy moment, Trudeaumania was a passionate quest for a new Canada that would define the values of Canadians for decades to come.
Synopsis
One of The Hill Times' Best Books of 2016
In 1968, Canadians took a chance on a new kind of politician. Pierre Trudeau became the leader of the Liberal Party and within two months was prime minister of Canada. His meteoric rise to power was driven by Trudeaumania, a phenomenon that generated the same media hype, sexual sizzle, and adoring crowds as Beatlemania. This book examines the origins, dynamics, and enduring significance of Trudeaumania, attributing it to the rise 1960s radicalism, nationalist aspirations, and modern mass media. Far from being a sixties crazy moment, it was an exercise in national identity formation that would define the values of Canadians for decades to come.