The Sound of One Voice: Eugene Forsey and His Letters to the Press - Softcover

Hodgetts, J. E.

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0802078044 ISBN 13: 9780802078049

Publisher: University of Toronto Press, 2000

Synopsis

Eugene Forsey chose to air his heartfelt opinions in the broadest of public forums, the letters to the editors page. His foremost concern was the survival and success of Canada as a unified nation, but the demise of the English language, litter, and the misguided aesthetics of government agencies in the placing of public statuary did not escape his at times acerbic pen. Selecting from some 800 letters written over 60 years, J.E. Hodgetts weaves together a full picture of this patriot, whose debates in the press ranged from the role of the governor general, the senate, the judiciary, and the rule of law to his last battle over the Meech Lake Accord. In true democratic fashion the Canadian academic and constitutional aficionado, in answering the question of why such a prominent public figure would attach himself to this particular genre, "The Sound of One Voice" broaches the greater meaning of the letter to the editor, a often neglected area in the literature of democratic politics.

About this title

About the Author

J.E. Hodgetts is Professor Emeritus at the University of Toronto, President Emeritus at Victoria University, and a Skelton-Clark Visiting Fellow at Queen's University.

From the Inside Flap

'The Sound of One Voice adds impressively to our understanding of Mr. Forsey and key public policy issues, particularly the role of the federal state and the national unity dilemma.'

'These letters present Forsey in all his charm, wit, intelligence, learning, insight, and strangely amusing invective ... I read this eagerly and with great interest. Professor Hodgetts is one of Canada's most distinguished academics and scholars and Eugene Forsey was, of course, a Canadian icon.'

Edition details

• Publisher: University of Toronto Press
• Publication date: 2000
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0802078044
• ISBN 13: 9780802078049
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 224