Any review that speaks of “the frankness, nerve and patriotism of the Nemnis” is very hard to read objectively. We are pleased and honoured to have our book reviewed by John Hellman, a renowned specialist of personalism and of the Catholic youth movements of the 1930s and ’40s, important influences on Young Trudeau.
Professor Hellman rightly notes that we have discovered a Trudeau remarkably different from “the rebel of legend.” We were indeed surprised to discover “a dutiful and deferential student of the Jesuit fathers,” strongly attracted by “conservative, militant and authoritarian European thinkers,” in short, the antithesis of the well-known Trudeau.
Professor Hellman writes that our intention to show in Volume Two how Trudeau matured to become the champion of fundamental liberal values “will be a tall order.” Maybe so. However, as he correctly notes, our Volume One “establishes Trudeau as having a rigorously trained, first-rate mind with vast cultural baggage.” In Volume Two we will examine how this “first-rate mind’s” search for the truth was instrumental in his escape from the cultural cocoon of conservative and Catholic Quebec.
There is, however, a vague air of discontent that permeates the review, as well as occasional ambiguities in some sentences, that prevent us from responding adequately to Hellman in the limited space we have been allotted. One example: What does he mean when he mentions that Trudeau made, in 1941, a 1.600-kilometre canoe trip “instead of preparing with others of the French Canadian elite to help Lord Mountbatten test those German coastal defenses at Dieppe”? Is he arguing that the 1942 disaster of Dieppe is proof that the Canadian fight against Nazism was wrong? Who exactly is he criticizing in his ironic statement?
Regarding Trudeau’s anti-Semitism, Hellman reduces our treatment of this sensitive issue to the play presented at Brébeuf, and concludes that it only shows “a politically incorrect sense of humour.” Our analysis is much more complex. As for Trudeau’s submission to the Church, we cite the letters he wrote—until the age of 28—dutifully seeking permission from religious authorities to read books on the Index. For Hellman, Trudeau “could be seen as demonstrating chutzpah” in doing so. We are surprised by this interpretation and invite your readers to be the judges.
In view of the revelations of our book, Hellman seems to worry that Trudeau will lose many admirers in Canada. Is he suggesting that we, as his friends, should not have told the truth for fear of the consequences? Whatever he means, we can allay his fears. The fact that Young Trudeau has been a best seller in both English and French is ample proof that our book appeals to a large audience. Some readers and reviewers tell us they have come to see Trudeau as more human, more credible and appreciate the great distance he had to travel to become the man they know. His enemies use his past to deprecate him even more. As honest researchers and writers, our only commitment is to the truth, not to its consequences.
There are a few factual errors in the review. For lack of space, we will mention one only, which concerns us personally. Hellman claims that we were so shocked by our discoveries that we rushed and “decided to publish them in a stand-alone work.” The book he reviewed is, as intended, and as clearly indicated, Volume One of a series. It is not a short book and it took us a good five years of hard work to complete. Volume Two, describing Trudeau’s astounding conversion to liberalism and democracy will, we hope, be ready in two years.
We also hope that this exchange will help your readers benefit not only from our book but also from others that may be forthcoming on one of Canada’s most fascinating statesmen.
Max and Monique Nemni
Toronto, Ontario
