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Lädt ... Smallwood: The Unlikely Revolutionary (1968)von Richard Gwyn
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Melde dich bei LibraryThing an um herauszufinden, ob du dieses Buch mögen würdest. Keine aktuelle Diskussion zu diesem Buch. 1st & 2nd revised editions ( ) This is a biography of the first premier of Newfoundland, Joey Smallwood, who was the main engine behind bringing Newfoundland into Canada. It covers Smallwood's entire life up to the time of writing, which was the late 1960s. By the time the book ends, Smallwood is preparing to leave politics after laying the groundwork for a party that can carry on without him. Issues are left hanging in a way that readers in 2016 will be able to resolve simply by looking up what happened (for example, on the Churchill Falls project). This incompleteness is interesting in a way -- it makes Smallwood's life story feel that much more vibrant than a biography of someone who has been long dead by the time the biographer started writing. While Gwyn had access to Smallwood's diaries and Smallwood himself cooperated with Gwyn during the project, the biography is by no means uncritical. Gwyn highlights both strengths and weaknesses in his subject and also talks about how his strengths can become weaknesses in the wrong situation. The writing is clear and unfussy, and there are plenty of amusing anecdotes throughout (my particular favourite was the one about the Newfoundland delegation in Ottawa in the middle of summer). The picture section was somewhat lacking; setting aside the fact of no colour photos, which is excusable given the vintage of most of the photos, two of the photos are repeated from the front and back cover. Part of me expects that the photo section in the middle will not repeat cover photos, for maximum variety. This book is recommended for those who like Canadian history, those who want to learn more about Newfoundland, and those who have read Wayne Johnston's The Colony of Unrequited Dreams, which fictionalizes the life of Smallwood. Zeige 2 von 2 keine Rezensionen | Rezension hinzufügen
The extraordinary life of Joey Smallwood is the stuff of fiction--literally: Wayne Johnston's acclaimed novel, The Colony of Unrequited Dreams, draws heavily on this definitive biography. And no wonder! Set against a colorful background in stirring times it has, as its hero, a character whose career defied both convention and the odds. A one time pig farmer and ardent socialist-turned-union-buster Smallwood is best remembered as the man responsible for bringing Newfoundland into confederation with Canada. A full ten years before Alaska and Hawaii became the 49th and 50th states of the union a massive British Dominion on the Eastern Seaboard was at a crossroads. Should they join the US as its 49th state? Maintain ties with the British via a British-led commission of government? Should they join Canada? Joey Smallwood, a well-known radio personality, writer and organizer at the time, led a spirited campaign in favor of joining Canada. With 52.3% of a controversial vote marred by sectarian tensions Newfoundlanders voted with Smallwood and the boundaries of Canada as we know them today were established. The first premier of Newfoundland, Smallwood ran Newfoundland virtually unchallenged for 23 years. Smallwood's work experience was checkered, at best, but included stints as a contributor to socialist newspapers in New York and London. He was self-taught, and possessed the enthusiasm and wrong-headedness of the autodidact. As Gwyn shows, however, Smallwood possessed ambition of a rare order and utterly unconquerable self-confidence. These qualities combined with unerring political instinct enabled Smallwood to drag a reluctant Newfoundland into union with Canada, and subsequently to impose his will over compliant colleagues and a vestigial opposition until he governed his island province with the near-absolute power of a despot. Like a despot, too, he countenanced corruption on a scale rarely equaled in Canada. His fall, no less than his rise to power, contains elements of pathos, farce, and pure, farfetched wonderfulness. Richard Gwyn interviewed Smallwood extensively and enjoyed his subject's full co-operation. But this is in no sense an authorized biography. It is a balanced, informed, and deeply considered life of a unique political figure. Skyhorse Publishing, along with our Arcade, Good Books, Sports Publishing, and Yucca imprints, is proud to publish a broad range of biographies, autobiographies, and memoirs. Our list includes biographies on well-known historical figures like Benjamin Franklin, Nelson Mandela, and Alexander Graham Bell, as well as villains from history, such as Heinrich Himmler, John Wayne Gacy, and O. J. Simpson. We have also published survivor stories of World War II, memoirs about overcoming adversity, first-hand tales of adventure, and much more. While not every title we publish becomes a New York Times bestseller or a national bestseller, we are committed to books on subjects that are sometimes overlooked and to authors whose work might not otherwise find a home. Keine Bibliotheksbeschreibungen gefunden. |
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Google Books — Lädt ... GenresMelvil Decimal System (DDC)971.8History and Geography North America Canada Newfoundland and Labrador, Saint Pierre and MiquelonKlassifikation der Library of Congress [LCC] (USA)BewertungDurchschnitt:
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