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Pierre Berton: A Biography
The first ever biography of one of Canada’s best-known and most colourful personalities by an award-winning author.
From his northern childhood on, it was clear that Pierre Berton (1920—2004) was different from his peers. Over the course of his eighty-four years, he would become the most famous Canadian media figure of his time, in newspapers, magazines, radio, television, and books — sometimes all at once. Berton dominated bookstore shelves for almost half a century, winning Governor General’s Awards for Klondike and The Last Spike , among many others, along with a dozen honorary degrees.
Throughout it all, Berton was larger than full of verve and ideas, he approached everything he did with passion, humour, and an insatiable curiosity. He loved controversy and being the centre of attention, and provoked national debate on subjects as wide-ranging as religion and marijuana use. A major voice of Canadian nationalism at the dawn of globalization, he made Canadians take interest in their own history and become proud of it. But he had his critics too, and some considered him egocentric and mean-spirited.
Now, with the same meticulous research and storytelling skill that earned him wide critical acclaim for The Spinster and the Prophet , Brian McKillop traces Pierre Berton’s remarkable life, with special emphasis on his early days and his rise to prominence. The result is a comprehensive, vivid portrait of the life and work of one of our most celebrated national figures.
From his northern childhood on, it was clear that Pierre Berton (1920—2004) was different from his peers. Over the course of his eighty-four years, he would become the most famous Canadian media figure of his time, in newspapers, magazines, radio, television, and books — sometimes all at once. Berton dominated bookstore shelves for almost half a century, winning Governor General’s Awards for Klondike and The Last Spike , among many others, along with a dozen honorary degrees.
Throughout it all, Berton was larger than full of verve and ideas, he approached everything he did with passion, humour, and an insatiable curiosity. He loved controversy and being the centre of attention, and provoked national debate on subjects as wide-ranging as religion and marijuana use. A major voice of Canadian nationalism at the dawn of globalization, he made Canadians take interest in their own history and become proud of it. But he had his critics too, and some considered him egocentric and mean-spirited.
Now, with the same meticulous research and storytelling skill that earned him wide critical acclaim for The Spinster and the Prophet , Brian McKillop traces Pierre Berton’s remarkable life, with special emphasis on his early days and his rise to prominence. The result is a comprehensive, vivid portrait of the life and work of one of our most celebrated national figures.
808 pages, Hardcover
First published October 14, 2008
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
November 15, 2018
Pierre Berton was a prolific writer, journalist, activist, and most of all he was a celebrity. A rare thing in Canada, especially during the time of his emergence in the 1950's. Until his death in 2004 Berton was a regular visitor to people's homes; on TV with The Pierre Berton Show, The Great Debate, and of course the legendary Canadian show Front Page Challenge. He was also a fixture on Canadian bookshelves; Berton wrote 50 books in 50 years, including some of the most memorable Canadian books ever written.
He went against the grain of what Canadians were supposed to be; he was loud, brash, sometimes arrogant, and always opinionated. He wasn't to everyone's taste and had his share of detractors. McKillop writes with great thoroughness of Berton's life, from the son of a Dawson, Yukon prospector to Vancouver Sun writer; to being one of the leading lights of Macleans magazine, to his four year stint as one of the most read Toronto Daily Star columnists ever. Then followed his writing career, with Klondike, and on to so many other brilliant books on Canadian history and culture. If, like me, you had your formative years in the 1960's and 1970's, Berton was everywhere. He was like a part of the family; a slightly eccentric, super confident and opinionated uncle. One who always wore a bow tie. I wish the cover of the book showed that midlife Berton; the early newspaperman shot is a good one but fails to capture the man's essence.
McKillop shows all sides of Berton. Pierre was part of the old boys' club in a lot of ways, but also was a strong advocate for social justice and very much on the left of the political spectrum. Yet he was so readable and entertaining he crossed all boundaries. Those on the opposite end of the spectrum liked him regardless.
As far as the author is concerned, McKillop spends too much time writing about the insiders of the publishing and academic worlds. It serves a point to show how academics were distrustful and jealous of Berton's way with popularizing history, but his readers settled that argument. In the latter stages of the book McKillop suggests that Berton was out of touch with the modern world, which I found to be unnecessarily disparaging. I searched some of Berton's Saturday Toronto Star columns from 1992 to 1994 and enjoyed reading his writing, much as it has been a joy of discovery to read his 1958-1962 columns, well before my time.
Few quibbles with McKillop's research, although he has some minor errors, such as his mention of Allan Lamport, who was a Toronto city controller, not a "comptroller".
It is sad to see only 307 reviews of Berton's greatest book (in my opinion) The National Dream, on Goodreads. It was also sad to read about his decline and illnesses late in life. Yet he lived as full and successful a life as any Canadian has ever lived. It is unfortunate this giant seems to be most remembered for his line that "Canadians know how to make love in a canoe". The older I get the more I see how generations can wash away the leading lights of previous decades. Great people make their mark but I've seen succeeding generations create their own retroactive icons and snub the real achievers. Pierre Berton deserves to be remembered.
He went against the grain of what Canadians were supposed to be; he was loud, brash, sometimes arrogant, and always opinionated. He wasn't to everyone's taste and had his share of detractors. McKillop writes with great thoroughness of Berton's life, from the son of a Dawson, Yukon prospector to Vancouver Sun writer; to being one of the leading lights of Macleans magazine, to his four year stint as one of the most read Toronto Daily Star columnists ever. Then followed his writing career, with Klondike, and on to so many other brilliant books on Canadian history and culture. If, like me, you had your formative years in the 1960's and 1970's, Berton was everywhere. He was like a part of the family; a slightly eccentric, super confident and opinionated uncle. One who always wore a bow tie. I wish the cover of the book showed that midlife Berton; the early newspaperman shot is a good one but fails to capture the man's essence.
McKillop shows all sides of Berton. Pierre was part of the old boys' club in a lot of ways, but also was a strong advocate for social justice and very much on the left of the political spectrum. Yet he was so readable and entertaining he crossed all boundaries. Those on the opposite end of the spectrum liked him regardless.
As far as the author is concerned, McKillop spends too much time writing about the insiders of the publishing and academic worlds. It serves a point to show how academics were distrustful and jealous of Berton's way with popularizing history, but his readers settled that argument. In the latter stages of the book McKillop suggests that Berton was out of touch with the modern world, which I found to be unnecessarily disparaging. I searched some of Berton's Saturday Toronto Star columns from 1992 to 1994 and enjoyed reading his writing, much as it has been a joy of discovery to read his 1958-1962 columns, well before my time.
Few quibbles with McKillop's research, although he has some minor errors, such as his mention of Allan Lamport, who was a Toronto city controller, not a "comptroller".
It is sad to see only 307 reviews of Berton's greatest book (in my opinion) The National Dream, on Goodreads. It was also sad to read about his decline and illnesses late in life. Yet he lived as full and successful a life as any Canadian has ever lived. It is unfortunate this giant seems to be most remembered for his line that "Canadians know how to make love in a canoe". The older I get the more I see how generations can wash away the leading lights of previous decades. Great people make their mark but I've seen succeeding generations create their own retroactive icons and snub the real achievers. Pierre Berton deserves to be remembered.
June 12, 2018
Engaging. Authoritative. Definitive.
If only more biographies were as well researched and written.
Entirely worthy of its subject, the writing of A.B. McKillop brings Pierre Berton alive and well places him in the context of the story of Canada.
I cannot more highly recommended this biography, especially for fans of Bertonalia.
If only more biographies were as well researched and written.
Entirely worthy of its subject, the writing of A.B. McKillop brings Pierre Berton alive and well places him in the context of the story of Canada.
I cannot more highly recommended this biography, especially for fans of Bertonalia.
January 17, 2009
Every Canadian should read this book. Every aspiring journalist. Great history of the long gone era of the way journalism used to be. Reads like an adventure story.
January 3, 2024
Full disclosure, I didn't get very far in this book. If you have more drive than I to know about Berton, you might enjoy it. But I have been hooked on bios of less interesting figures a lot easier. The main annoyance for me-it drives me crazy when biographies contain a lot of "he may have thought", or "she probably felt" stuff that is so clearly simple and fairly wild conjecture on the part of the author. It really felt like the authors didn't actually have that much material to draw from, but they were determined to write a really long book.
As I said though, I didn't get far. I didn't get to Pierre Berton, to be honest. I started to drift off during the overly lengthy exploration of his ancestors, many of whom held no interest for me at all.
Maybe I'll try again down the road and update this review, but I wasn't impressed.
As I said though, I didn't get far. I didn't get to Pierre Berton, to be honest. I started to drift off during the overly lengthy exploration of his ancestors, many of whom held no interest for me at all.
Maybe I'll try again down the road and update this review, but I wasn't impressed.
February 14, 2020
i finely finish this big book. but it was interesting ,
September 3, 2024
This is a fine book about a fine Canadian writer and personality.
I give it five stars for a number of reasons.
I give it five stars for a number of reasons.
July 27, 2011
Fascinating review of an iconic Canadian.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews