Reviews
"Judging by the first half, his two-volume biography will no doubt be ranked with Donald Creighton's two-book landmark from the 1950s…Gwyn provides a more dispassionate analysis of this complicated man and his times…A welcome addition to the national library." -The National Post "Gwyn has performed a service to 21st-century Canadians by recreating a man of the 19th so well…This is a book that [Donald] Creighton, and perhaps even Sir John A. himself, could pick up and learn something." -Winnipeg Free Press "A vivid, multi-dimensional portrait of a fascinating character and his times…Gwyn, his trademark wry wit enlivening his text, brings a lifetime of political punditry to bear on his subject, surely one of the most intriguing political figures Canada even produced"-Montreal Gazette "Gwyn's book is also a hymn of praise to what he sees as a miraculous country, miraculous in its peacefulness, its diversity, its tolerance and its determined un-Americanness…Those positive national qualities can be traced back unmistakably to its first leader. This is the personal and contemporary insight that distinguishes this biography."-Toronto Star "Through historical documents, Gwyn gives great insight into this complicated character and his turbulent life… John A comes alive in these pages on many levels, including his most fallible."HaH -Halifax Chronicle-Herald "In a lively but thorough biography of John A. Macdonald up to the day of Confederation in 1867, Richard Gwyn brings to life the young Scottish-born lawyer who found himself unexpectedly entering politics in Kingston in 1844. Gwyn writes from a twenty-first century perspective while painting for his readers a vivid image of nineteenth century Canada: its society, customs, characters and politics. Gwyn helps us understand Macdonald's genius and vision, which would shape the nation that grew to the north of the United States." - Charles Taylor Prize Jury From the Hardcover edition., "Judging by the first half, his two-volume biography will no doubt be ranked with Donald Creighton's two-book landmark from the 1950s…Gwyn provides a more dispassionate analysis of this complicated man and his times…A welcome addition to the national library." - The National Post "Gwyn has performed a service to 21st-century Canadians by recreating a man of the 19th so well…This is a book that [Donald] Creighton, and perhaps even Sir John A. himself, could pick up and learn something." - Winnipeg Free Press "A vivid, multi-dimensional portrait of a fascinating character and his times…Gwyn, his trademark wry wit enlivening his text, brings a lifetime of political punditry to bear on his subject, surely one of the most intriguing political figures Canada even produced" -Montreal Gazette "Gwyn's book is also a hymn of praise to what he sees as a miraculous country, miraculous in its peacefulness, its diversity, its tolerance and its determined un-Americanness…Those positive national qualities can be traced back unmistakably to its first leader. This is the personal and contemporary insight that distinguishes this biography."- Toronto Star "Through historical documents, Gwyn gives great insight into this complicated character and his turbulent life… John A comes alive in these pages on many levels, including his most fallible."HaH - Halifax Chronicle-Herald "In a lively but thorough biography of John A. Macdonald up to the day of Confederation in 1867, Richard Gwyn brings to life the young Scottish-born lawyer who found himself unexpectedly entering politics in Kingston in 1844. Gwyn writes from a twenty-first century perspective while painting for his readers a vivid image of nineteenth century Canada: its society, customs, characters and politics. Gwyn helps us understand Macdonald's genius and vision, which would shape the nation that grew to the north of the United States." - Charles Taylor Prize Jury From the Hardcover edition., "Judging by the first half, his two-volume biography will no doubt be ranked with Donald Creighton's two-book landmark from the 1950s...Gwyn provides a more dispassionate analysis of this complicated man and his times...A welcome addition to the national library." - The National Post "Gwyn has performed a service to 21st-century Canadians by recreating a man of the 19th so well...This is a book that [Donald] Creighton, and perhaps even Sir John A. himself, could pick up and learn something." - Winnipeg Free Press "A vivid, multi-dimensional portrait of a fascinating character and his times...Gwyn, his trademark wry wit enlivening his text, brings a lifetime of political punditry to bear on his subject, surely one of the most intriguing political figures Canada even produced" -Montreal Gazette "Gwyn's book is also a hymn of praise to what he sees as a miraculous country, miraculous in its peacefulness, its diversity, its tolerance and its determined un-Americanness...Those positive national qualities can be traced back unmistakably to its first leader. This is the personal and contemporary insight that distinguishes this biography."- Toronto Star "Through historical documents, Gwyn gives great insight into this complicated character and his turbulent life... John A comes alive in these pages on many levels, including his most fallible."HaH - Halifax Chronicle-Herald "In a lively but thorough biography of John A. Macdonald up to the day of Confederation in 1867, Richard Gwyn brings to life the young Scottish-born lawyer who found himself unexpectedly entering politics in Kingston in 1844. Gwyn writes from a twenty-first century perspective while painting for his readers a vivid image of nineteenth century Canada: its society, customs, characters and politics. Gwyn helps us understand Macdonald's genius and vision, which would shape the nation that grew to the north of the United States." - Charles Taylor Prize Jury, "Judging by the first half, his two-volume biography will no doubt be ranked with Donald Creighton's two-book landmark from the 1950s...Gwyn provides a more dispassionate analysis of this complicated man and his times...A welcome addition to the national library." - The National Post "Gwyn has performed a service to 21st-century Canadians by recreating a man of the 19th so well...This is a book that [Donald] Creighton, and perhaps even Sir John A. himself, could pick up and learn something." - Winnipeg Free Press "A vivid, multi-dimensional portrait of a fascinating character and his times...Gwyn, his trademark wry wit enlivening his text, brings a lifetime of political punditry to bear on his subject, surely one of the most intriguing political figures Canada even produced" -Montreal Gazette "Gwyn's book is also a hymn of praise to what he sees as a miraculous country, miraculous in its peacefulness, its diversity, its tolerance and its determined un-Americanness...Those positive national qualities can be traced back unmistakably to its first leader. This is the personal and contemporary insight that distinguishes this biography."- Toronto Star "Through historical documents, Gwyn gives great insight into this complicated character and his turbulent life... John A comes alive in these pages on many levels, including his most fallible."HaH - Halifax Chronicle-Herald "In a lively but thorough biography of John A. Macdonald up to the day of Confederation in 1867, Richard Gwyn brings to life the young Scottish-born lawyer who found himself unexpectedly entering politics in Kingston in 1844. Gwyn writes from a twenty-first century perspective while painting for his readers a vivid image of nineteenth century Canada: its society, customs, characters and politics. Gwyn helps us understand Macdonald's genius and vision, which would shape the nation that grew to the north of the United States." - Charles Taylor Prize Jury From the Hardcover edition., "Judging by the first half, his two-volume biography will no doubt be ranked with Donald Creighton's two-book landmark from the 1950s…Gwyn provides a more dispassionate analysis of this complicated man and his times…A welcome addition to the national library." -The National Post "Gwyn has performed a service to 21st-century Canadians by recreating a man of the 19th so well…This is a book that [Donald] Creighton, and perhaps even Sir John A. himself, could pick up and learn something." -Winnipeg Free Press "A vivid, multi-dimensional portrait of a fascinating character and his times…Gwyn, his trademark wry wit enlivening his text, brings a lifetime of political punditry to bear on his subject, surely one of the most intriguing political figures Canada even produced"-Montreal Gazette "Gwyn's book is also a hymn of praise to what he sees as a miraculous country, miraculous in its peacefulness, its diversity, its tolerance and its determined un-Americanness…Those positive national qualities can be traced back unmistakably to its first leader. This is the personal and contemporary insight that distinguishes this biography."-Toronto Star "Through historical documents, Gwyn gives great insight into this complicated character and his turbulent life… John A comes alive in these pages on many levels, including his most fallible."HaH -Halifax Chronicle-Herald From the Hardcover edition.