This is the interview I did with John English regarding Citizen of the World. It is a bit old -a little more than a year- but is worth posting nonetheless. I suspect that under many christmas trees will be some of the latest crop of political autobiographies, while biography of a dead figure is different, this book really sets the standard for what political writing should do.
When you read it, and you should, it’s important to remember that as much as the book looks at the rise of a young Trudeau, it is also a good primer in the changing intellectual and cultural climate in Quebec from the 30s through to the late 60s, at least for someone like me that is not very well versed in Quebec historiography. In that sense the book is a double success: a thorough and interesting biography, that in a very accessible way offers real insight into a political figure, but also into the times in which he inhabited. English’s book is as good as any at reminding that even the most powerful figures come from somewhere and someplace, and if that were to change, so to would the person as we know them.
As always, if the sound is accelerated, be sure to download the file or subscribe via itunes. Those reading through blogawa.ca should come directly to the page for the file.
John English on Citizen of the World [9:27m]:
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Fellow Travellers 
December 20th, 2007 
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[...] Elliott Trudeau: 1968-2000. This is the second volume English has written on Trudeau, the first, Citizen of the World, came out in 2006 and Mike spoke with him then. As well this week we will be looking back at some of [...]