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John Ralston Saul
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Extraordinary Canadians Louis Hippolyte Lafontaine and Robert Baa Hardcover – October 5, 2010

by John Ralston Saul (Author)
4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 18 ratings
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Canada has no better interpreter than prolific writer and thinker John Ralston Saul. Here he argues that Canada did not begin in 1867; indeed, its foundation was laid by two visionary men, Louis-Hippolyte LaFontaine and Robert Baldwin. The two leaders of Lower and Upper Canada, respectively, worked together after the 1841 Union to lead a reformist movement for responsible government run by elected citizens instead of a colonial governor.

But it was during the "Great Ministry" of 1848—51 that the two politicians implemented laws that created a more equitable country. They revamped judicial institutions, created a public education system, made bilingualism official, designed a network of public roads, began a public postal system, and reformed municipal governance. Faced with opposition, and even violence, the two men— polar opposites in temperament—united behind a set of principles and programs that formed modern Canada. Writing with verve and deep conviction, Saul restores these two extraordinary Canadians to rightful prominence.

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  1. Print length
    272 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Penguin Canada
  4. Publication date
    October 5, 2010
  5. Dimensions
    5.25 x 0.75 x 7.75 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    0670067326
  7. ISBN-13
    978-0670067329
  8. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

Review

These books are…opportunities to deepen the relationship between Canadians of the past and Canadians of the present. May this dialogue continue, so that today’s biographers themselves will be the subject of the next wave of writers.” - The Globe and Mail

“The books would be a lovely addition to any library…they’re accessible and ready to be read by all.” - The Nova Scotian (Sunday Herald)

“Saul’s Extraordinary Canadians series is an extraordinary treat for history buffs” - The Hill Times

“The books would be a lovely addition to any library…they’re accessible and ready to be read by all.” - The Nova Scotian (Sunday Herald)

“Saul’s Extraordinary Canadians series an extraordinary treat for history buffs” (headline) - The Hill Times

About the Author

John Ralston Saul is Canada’s leading public intellectual. Declared a “prophet” by Time magazine, Saul has received many awards and prizes, including Chile’s Pablo Neruda Medal. He is president of PEN International, an organization dedicated to freedom of expression. He has published fourteen works, which have been translated into twenty-five languages in thirty-six countries, the most recent of which is The Comeback, an examination of the remarkable return to power of Aboriginal people in Canada. Saul lives in Toronto.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Penguin Canada; First Edition (October 5, 2010)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 272 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0670067326
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0670067329
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 12.8 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.25 x 0.75 x 7.75 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 18 ratings

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John Ralston Saul

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4.7 out of 5 stars
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Top reviews from the United States

  • mgagne
    5.0 out of 5 stars Extraordinary Canadians
    Reviewed in the United States on September 10, 2013
    Verified Purchase
    These two gentlemen set the framework for much of civil society in Canada. This book should be required reading for every Canadian, and certainly for anyone interested in Canadian History and a just society.
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Top reviews from other countries

  • Normand Hamel
    5.0 out of 5 stars The storey that has never been told before
    Reviewed in Canada on July 1, 2018
    Verified Purchase
    If you are a Canadian you ought to read this book. The author happens to be the husband of Adrienne Clarkson, the former Governor General of Canada, a quite fitting position that must have somewhat inspired Saul who wrote this book a few years after her tenure.

    We often forget that Canada is a little more than 150 years old. We normally think it has existed for centuries and that is certainly true for the aboriginals who have occupied this land for thousands of years, and also for the first European settlers who have discovered Canada in 1534. But politically speaking Canada as we know it today only took shape in 1867 based on a complete reorganization of the country that had been initiated decades before by the two main protagonists of this book.

    What I learned from this masterpiece is that Canada became a democracy almost a century before any other country in the world. And La Fontaine and Baldwin happen to be the originators of this improbable project. Reading this book made me realize that they were probably the two greatest heroes that Canada has ever produced. We owed them a lot and the author himself deserves our gratitude for making their accomplishments better known today.

    As I write this review the residence where La Fontaine lived when he was prime minister of Canada is being restored and a space has been reserved on its grounds to commemorate the events that took place there. What I did not know but learned in this book is that this is the house where democracy was born. But because of the shame associated with its birthing this story had never been told before.

    It is a passage of our history that we normally skip through because of the embarrassment it inevitably induces in us. But instead of feeling ashamed we should be extremely proud of what we have accomplished as a nation back then.
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  • Amazon Customer
    4.0 out of 5 stars Establishing the Foundations of Canadian Government.
    Reviewed in Canada on October 25, 2015
    Verified Purchase
    It's an interesting historic perspective - some principles are relevant in current day with people showing a desire for a more representative government that can deliver justice for all the people - not just the big owners and investors..
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  • Sandy Macdonald
    5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent perspective on precolonial days on Canada.
    Reviewed in Canada on December 18, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    I do not remember studying the decade before Confederation when I was in school. I had a Math/Science focus so may not remember well. The lifelong friendship between the leaders of Upper (Ontario) and Lower (Quebec) Canada was interesting as was the wording of some of the quotes - he sounded respectful of the French and of new immigrants as we were already a multicultural country.
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  • BenP
    5.0 out of 5 stars Vivid Portait of a Key Moment in Canada's History
    Reviewed in Canada on November 18, 2012
    Verified Purchase
    This book was recommended by a friend and has become a surprise all-time favourite!

    It focuses on the period during which Canada legally separated from the British Empire to become its own nation.

    By vividly painting both the political climate, central characters and historical backdrop that frame the compelling events of the time, Ralston Saul provides a provocative picture of a fledgling nation that is wise beyond its years.

    If you want to gain deeper insight into the culture that exists in Canada this book will illuminate.
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  • Elaine
    5.0 out of 5 stars amazing!
    Reviewed in Canada on September 8, 2017
    Verified Purchase
    This is an amazing account of two men and of a piece if Canadian history that is simply too little known and taught.
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