Description
Book SynopsisIn these lively, timely, and contentious essays J.L. Granatstein takes on one of the ‘hoary central myths’ of Canadian history and historiography: that the Liberals sold out Canada to the United States. It is a myth, he claims, perpetuated by Conservative historians such as David Creighton and George Grant, and by socialists like James Laxer. The original villain of this long-running melodrama is not the Liberals, the author maintains, but Britain.
Focusing on events surrounding the first and second world wars and the old War, Granatstein argues that Canadian governments, both Liberal and Conservative, turned to the south of economic ties only when their efforts to form such ties with Britain failed, and for defence only when Britain was too weak to guarantee Canadian security.
As Canadians continue to argue with each other about the benefits of a cosier relationship with out American cousins, Granatstein provides a salutary reminder that the historical roo
Trade Review
'Like many truisms Canadian scherish, this Mortonian-Creightonian-Lynchian stance is not true; or, at least, not wholly true. That Canada has come increasingly under the Americans' political, economic, and military sway I must accept. That Liberal governments were in power during much of the period in which this process occured is certainly corrent. But that Mackenzie King, Louis St. Laurent, and Lester Pearson collaboratedin or willing this surrender to United States control is ridiculous. We must look at why events took place to understand what happened, and that is the purpose of these essays.'
