I am Planta: On the Line. This is THECOMMENTARY.CA.

Richard Gwyn joins me now. The first volume of his definitive biography of Sir John A. Macdonald has just been published. The Toronto Star columnist is also the author of legendary books on Joey Smallwood-The Unlikely Revolutionary, and Pierre Trudeau-The Northern Magus. His previous book-a favourite of mine-Nationalism Without Walls was selected by the Literary Review of Canada as one of the country’s one hundred most important books. The first volume of John A: The Man Who Made Us is published by Random House and retails for $37.00. It follows Sir John A’s birth in Scotland through his family’s arrival in Kingston, Ontario, his early career as a lawyer, to Confederation. Along the way the author chronicles Macdonald’s two marriages and captures Macdonald up to 1867 when he made us, and Canada was formed. Volume two, which will take us from 1867 to Macdonald’s death in 1891 will be released in 2009. I am very pleased to welcome to the Planta: On the Line program, Richard Gwyn. Good morning, Mr. Gwyn.

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