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Extraordinary Canadians Pierre Elliott Trudeau

Part of Extraordinary Canadians

Author Nino Ricci

Paperback

$13.50 US

| $18.00 CAN

Penguin Canada

On sale Sep 04, 2012 | 240 Pages | 9780143055945

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Love him or hate him, Pierre Elliott Trudeau marked us all. The man whose motto was “Reason over passion” managed to arouse in Canadians fierce passions of every hue. Acclaimed novelist Nino Ricci begins with the crucial role Trudeau played in the formation of Ricci’s own sense of identity in order to examine how he expanded us as a people, not in spite of his contradictions but because of them. Downplaying the perpetual rebel image that Trudeau crafted, Ricci reconstructs the charismatic prime minister as an almost Zelig-like figure. If his beliefs shifted radically over the years—from separatist to federalist, from fascist to liberal, from civil rights champion to military strongman—Trudeau always acted on deep convictions. Brilliantly argued and sensitively observed, Ricci’s Trudeau is an unforgettable portrait of a memorable man.

“Nino Ricci, who, with a novelist's flair for the theatrical, has reanimated Trudeau in his entry in Penguin Canada's compact biographies of extraordinary Canadians…. Absorbing and thoughtful evaluations…. Compelling.” - The Globe and Mail

“The narrative is thoroughly researched. While Ricci presents few stories, details, or theories about Trudeau’s legacy that haven’t been told elsewhere, he provides a surprisingly comprehensive biography in perhaps the shortest number of pages ever devoted to a Trudeau book. Ricci’s signature style is evident, and his own insights peppered throughout the text are enjoyable. Personal, human, and generous.” - Canada’s History magazine

“The authors [of the Extraordinary Canadians series] are well chosen; Nino Ricci … does terrific justice to Pierre Trudeau.” - Calgary Herald

“A balanced and subtle account of [a] complex and very private man…. Even if you have read Stephen Clarkson and Christina McCall or John English’s superb Trudeau biographies, far more substantial and detailed, you will want to read this elegant little book. It provides the best, and best written, perspective on the man there is.” - Guelph Mercury

“Charming and readable…. Ricci does an excellent job explaining the sources of the Trudeau myth and, in doing so, makes Trudeau the man more human.” - The Canadian Encyclopedia Blog

NINO RICCI's first novel, Lives of the Saints, won the Governor General's Literary Award for Fiction, the SmithBooks/Books in Canada First Novel Award, and the F.G. Bressani Prize and was made into a motion picture starring Sophia Loren. The novel was also a long-time national bestseller, and was followed by the highly acclaimed In a Glass House and Where She Has Gone, which was shortlisted for the Scotiabank Giller Prize. His bestselling novel Testament won the Trillium Book Award. His most recent novel The Origin of Species received the Governor General's Literary Award for Fiction and the Canadian Authors Association Award for Fiction. In total, his novels have appeared on 9 Best Book lists, including The New York Times and England’s Times Literary Supplement.

Nino Ricci has also won the Betty Trask Award for Fiction (UK), The Winnifred Holtby Prize (UK) and the 1992 Prise Contrepoint Madrineaux (France). Nino Ricci was recently named the L.G. Pathy '56 Visiting Professor in Canadian Studies at Princeton University and was awarded an honorary Doctor of Laws from the University of Windsor as well the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal. He has been recognized with the Order of Canada for his contributions to literature as a renowned author. He lives in Toronto. View titles by Nino Ricci