The Purpose of Biography

This weekend I finally got around to finishing Just Watch Me by John English. The book deserves the praise it has received from award committees, but by no means is it an analytical read. The extensive interviews English conducted for the book are probably the most distinguished aspect of the book, as well as his access to Trudeau's private papers. But...what is English trying to say? The book contains the voices of so many of Trudeau's contemporaries that English's own thoughts and opinions become hidden. When I read his Citizen of the World, I felt I knew who Trudeau was as a young man. Just Watch Me did not captivate me the same way. It was so standard.

With this critique in mind, I am forced to ask myself: What is the purpose of biography? Was I looking for a critique and analysis of Trudeau's economic policies? Probably not, and I doubt many of the non-academic readers of Just Watch Me were looking for this kind of detail either. This sort of analysis may be better suited for an academic paper, or part of a collection of essays on Trudeau.

Perhaps the purpose of biography, then, is simply to communicate the details of an individual's life. In the context of biography, Trudeau's economic plan should only be described in relation to how it impacted his life, and how the economic plan was the result of his personality. Once the reader has those facts, they can move on to an essay critiquing the economic plan. In this sense, English does a fine job. However, I am curious to know what those reading this blog think. What should the scope of a biography be? Should it be merely descriptive or analytical? Should it focus solely on the person, or also their accomplishments/products?

Reflections on Arthur Currie

The Laurier Centre for Military Strategic and Disarmament Studies recently redesigned their website and now features several blog posts by both up and coming and well established historians. I particularly enjoyed Andrew Iarocci's post A Year in the Tank Shop, which included some humourous insight on the differences between the personalities of Sam Hughes and Arthur Currie:

"Among the more unusual conservation projects was some work that we did on a roll top desk that had belonged to Sir Arthur Currie. (Currie’s desk was not alone in the collection; there was another that had been used by Sir Frederick Borden and Sir Sam Hughes during their respective tenures as ministers of militia.) I doubt that Currie, when he went to war as an untried brigadier in 1915, could have imagined that his office furniture would one day grace the collections of a national museum. Hughes, on the other hand, probably would have expected nothing less."

Iarocci is right. Currie never would have expected his possessions to be housed in a museum. Still, I am glad to see that some of his possessions are being acquired. England has done a much better job at commemorating their military heroes, as I discovered during a recent visit to the Imperial War Museum in London (UK). They currently house a permanent exhibit on the life of General Montgomery. The exhibit told the story of his life, from his childhood up until his post-military career. They had a showcase full of his medals and uniforms he had worn throughout his life. I can only imagine the effect this exhibit would have on British citizens learning about one of their most celebrated heroes.

After leaving the museum, I couldn't help but wonder why Currie does not have a similar exhibit here in Canada. Currie has strong connections to several regions in Canada, including southwestern Ontario (his childhood home of Strathroy, in particular), Toronto, Montreal, and Vancouver, meaning Currie has direct national appeal. Still, the only way this country has honoured him is a small statue in the Valiants Memorial, located in Ottawa. His childhood home is in a poor state of affairs and there is no plaque or statue in Currie's hometown honouring him. The General Sir Arthur Currie Memorial Project is currently trying to rectify this, and I encourage everyone to look at their website.

In England, Montgomery has his own exhibition and several statues throughout the country. Currie is one of Canada's most important figures and deserves the treatment Montgomery has received in his country. Canada's interest in military history and Currie's regional connections suggest that a traveling exhibition on Currie's life would draw crowds wherever it traveled, and a statue of the man in his hometown would surely inspire more civic pride in Strathroy. Currie dedicated his life to Canada. The least we can do is offer him our time.