Reviews (3)

Dumping on Dief--Again
This book's virtues are obvious. It is a very thorough, well-researched scholarly monograph covering all aspects of the public and private lives of the former Conservative prime minister of Canada. It is factually reliable and stylistically readable, if a touch dull.

But it is so thoroughly, comprehensively, persistently hostile towards its subject that it cannot be considered balanced or fair. It probably contains the truth (and nothing but the truth) about Diefenbaker, but it doesn't contain the WHOLE truth about him. The author is too obviously grinding an axe; his antipathy seems almost personal at times.

The cover is a clue to the contents, since it has a demonic close-up of a glowering Diefenbaker. Basically, the author thinks that the former PM did nothing right, apart from give South Africa a hard time on occasion. According to the author, everything Dief touched went wrong. His account of Diefenbaker's relations with John F. Kennedy are particularly disappointing. Absolutely nothing is granted to the PM's position while the President emerges as the very epitome of cool-headed reasonableness. (We know otherwise now.)

In other words, this is just a long, dull but dependably scholarly version of Peter Newman's anti-Diefenbaker polemics from the 1960s. It is as though the author wanted to make Newman's caricature of Diefenbaker respectable. Measured against that very low ambition, this book must be judged a success. Too bad the author didn't aim higher and produce a balanced picture of Diefenbaker warts and all, rather than just all wart.

A great biography of a towering figure of Canadian history..
This text appeared as I was attending graduate school in Toronto, Ontario. I ended up writing my thesis on a specific part of the Diefenbaker governments and this book is the reason why. (I'd also like to say that I wrote Smith about some of my research and he was very cooperative and professional!) Wonderfully researched and well written, you'll learn quite a bit about Dief the Chief and US-Canadian relations during the dangerous years from the late 50s to early 1960s; but you'll also learn more about the Canadian experience.

This book is simply must for anyone hoping to understand Canadian politics and culture.

The Definitive Dief!
This book has all you'll ever need to know about Canada's 13th PM. It is thoroughly (almost excessively!) researched, and covers the Chief's life from start to finish. At no point did I find myself thinking, "gee, I wish Smith could have provided us with more details or factual information". No book has gone this far in providing us with the definitive Dief! ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Politics behind politics
This is book offers an excellent insight into the private life of John Diefenbaker through a wide variety of interviews with family, friends, and colleagues.Focusing primarily on the first half-century of his life, many insinuations are made proclaiming Edna Diefenbaker as the backbone of John's political initiation and the top force behind his successful bid to become Prime Minister of Canada. ... Read more