News Release

2009-11-09 09:36:47

Waterloo holds launch for historian's Pierre Trudeau biography

WATERLOO, Ont. (Monday, Nov. 9, 2009) - The University of Waterloo will hold a local book launch this week for acclaimed biographer John English's second instalment of a two-volume look at the life and times of Pierre Elliott Trudeau.

The event, hosted in collaboration with the Canadian International Council, will feature a TV-style interview with English and Waterloo president David Johnston.

DATE: Wednesday, Nov. 11

TIME: 4 p.m. - 6 p.m.

LOCATION: Federation Hall, University of Waterloo campus

English, a Waterloo professor of history, is the author of the newly published Just Watch Me: The Life of Pierre Elliott Trudeau 1968-2000. Three years ago, English released Citizen of the World: The Life of Pierre Elliott Trudeau, Volume One: 1919-1968.

"Just Watch Me and Citizen of the World are the definitive story of Pierre Trudeau and the two volumes provide an indispensable look at the life and times of the most important and controversial leader of our time," said Mark Haslett, university librarian at Waterloo. "We are honoured to be able to celebrate this accomplishment by one of our professors."

A former Member of Parliament for Kitchener, English was given exclusive access to Pierre Elliott Trudeau's private papers and letters. He researched the entire published record of the period and the archival records. He also interviewed hundreds of people associated with Trudeau, both publicly and privately.

English, author of the well-regarded two-volume biography of Lester Pearson, is currently executive director of the Centre for International Governance Innovation.

Trudeau's life is one of Canada's most engrossing stories. English reveals how for Trudeau, style was as important as substance. The title Just Watch Me, is not only Trudeau's notorious phrase from the October Crisis of 1970, but also a motto for his performance in life.

English examines how the controversial public figure intertwined with the charismatic private man and committed father. He traces Trudeau's deep friendships (with women especially, many of them talented artists, like Barbra Streisand) and bitter enmities, as well as his marriage difficulties and family tragedy.

In his book, English focuses on Trudeau's strengths and weaknesses - from Trudeaumania to political disenchantment, from his electrifying response to the kidnappings during the October Crisis, to his all-important patriation of the Canadian Constitution, and his evolution to influential elder statesman.

On Nov. 25, English will give another reading of his new Trudeau biography at 7:30 p.m. in Knox Church, 50 Erb St W. The event is sponsored by Words Worth Books. For details, go to www.wordsworthbooks.com.

About the University of Waterloo

In just half a century, the University of Waterloo, located at the heart of Canada's Technology Triangle, has become one of Canada's leading comprehensive universities with 28,000 full- and part-time students in undergraduate and graduate programs. Waterloo, as home to the world's largest post-secondary co-operative education program, embraces its connections to the world and encourages enterprising partnerships in learning, research and discovery. In the next decade, the university is committed to building a better future for Canada and the world by championing innovation and collaboration to create solutions relevant to the needs of today and tomorrow. For further details, visit www.uwaterloo.ca.

Resources

Contacts:

Mary Stanley, manager, library communications and development,
519-888-4567 ext. 36019

Joe Turcotte, communications co-ordinator, Canadian International
Council, 519-885-2444 ext. 250 or jturcotte@cigionlne.org

John Morris, Waterloo media relations, 519-888-4435 or jmorris@uwaterloo.ca

Waterloo release no. 112

2009-11-09 09:36:47