William Lyon Mackenzie King

the long version

"First, a Great Depression swept across Canada and people were lining up in the streets for soup kitchens. Then dictators clambered to power in Europe. To top things off, a major war raged around the world. What sort of a man led Canada through such events? b3sWiley Willieb4s was a confirmed bachelor who preferred his dogs to the company of humans. He was perceived as tubby and bland, ponderous and dull. But after he died, his secret diary revealed that he had been speaking to the dead in clandestine sǎnces held in darkened rooms. In spite (or is it because?) of it all, this man created a social safety net Canadians can still count on today (like Unemployment Insurance, Family Allowance and Old Age Pensions). Mackenzie King: a strange, steadfast, complex man leading through exciting, violent, world-altering times."--Publisher's website (www.jackfruitpress.com)