Published in 1998, Paul Martin examines the business and political record of one of Canada's preeminent public figures.
This book is an attempt to provide some insight into Paul Martin's background and record, his values and beliefs. Veteran journalists Robert Chodos, Rae Murphy, and Eric Hamovitch explore Martin's roots and his relation to the political legacy of his father, who was himself a contender for the Liberal leadership on two occasions. They describe Martin's rise to the top of Montreal's business world, his entry into politics, his record, his policies, and his ideas about business-government relations.

Anyone interested in the political scene in Canada today will want to read this fascinating portrait of one of the nation's most complex and powerful public figures.

ROBERT CHODOS is an experienced author and translator who has published widely in the fields of Canadian business, politics, and transportation and of Quebec history. Among his most recent books are The Unmaking of Canada (1991), Lost in Cyberspace? (1997), and Paul Martin: A Political Biography (1998), all co-written with Rae Murphy and Eric Hamovitch, and all published by Lorimer.

Robert Chodos' profile page

RAE MURPHY is a retired professor of Canadian studies at Conestoga College in Kitchener, Ontario.

Rae Murphy's profile page

ERIC HAMOVITCH is a freelance writer based in Montreal.

Eric Hamovitch's profile page

"Of most interest is Martin's battle against the deficit. What comes through is the conviction that he is a cautious businessman and a cautious politician."

Vancouver Sun

"...I recommend Paul Martin: A Political Biography. [It surprised me in its fairness to the minister of finance and its grasp of his career before he turned to electoral politics a decade ago. He comes through as both the best bet on hand as the new prime minister and probably a good one, notably at championing federalism in Quebec. Their book is not an absolute approval of Martin's ambitions but it does suggest there is more to him than some of us have been ready to grant."

Toronto Sun

"This first biography of Paul Martin Jr. is a long-overdue examination of a man about to set sail though some of the most turbulent times in Canadian history."

Halifax Daily News

"Chodos, Murphy and Hamovitch... work smoothly as a team."

Canadian Book Review Annual

"This is straightforward family and personal history (including his father's two near-miss attempts to become Liberal leader.)"

Globe and Mail