Canadian biographer John English discussed the life and nature of former prime minister Pierre Elliot Trudeau, who he described as “the most significant figure in Canadian politics,” Sept. 28.
“Trudeau changed the way Canada saw itself, and saved the country from the separatism in the ‘60s and ‘70s,” English said.
English’s talk was a pre-festival event for the Ottawa International Writers Festival, which will run Oct. 20–26.
English, a political historian and former member of parliament for Kitchener, Ont., is the author of Just Watch Me: The Life of Pierre Elliott Trudeau, the second and final volume of his biography of the late prime minister. The book was published late last year. Its first half, Citizen of the World, was published in 2006.
“With such a long and active life, the experience of Trudeau’s life could not be captured in a single volume,” English explained.
While Citizen of the World documented Trudeau’s early life, Just Watch Me focuses on the latter half of his life, starting with his first election to the office of prime minister in 1968 and ending with his death in 2000 from complications of Parkinson’s disease and prostate cancer.
The festival, a semi-annual event now in its 13th year, celebrates and presents both Canadian and international writers to the public.
“Trudeau was very happy when he got into the House of Commons, yet he never felt [that] excitement when not in politics,” English said.
English spoke about Trudeau’s evolving political views, in particular how Trudeau transitioned from a separatist with “no feel for the whole country” to a Canadian nationalist who was able to form a Canadian identity outside of Canada. He also pointed out Trudeau’s flexibility and openness to ideas.
“Trudeau was a superb actor,” English said. “Every night, he used to debate with his son about politics.”
Though the biography focuses on Trudeau’s political career, English also mentioned the complexity of Trudeau’s personal life.
English described Trudeau’s religious life as a Catholic, comparing him to a Victorian who went beyond the grasp of his Catholicism so that his romantic self could be contained.
He added that Trudeau’s romantic self was expanded with his more open and emotional relationship with women.
English also discussed what he felt to be Trudeau’s paradoxical nature.
“Trudeau was a man of tremendous passion, yet he was a private person,” English said.
English stressed that Trudeau was a very important historical figure, and commented on the fact that Trudeau was a very disciplined politician, who always created strong reactions with everyone he met.
He added that Trudeau is still very significant to Canadian politics and should always be in the mind of Canadians.
The talk was followed by a question and answer period led by economist and writer Denise Chong, who was a senior economic adviser for Trudeau during his last term as prime minister.