A Very Canadian Coup: The Rise and Demise of Prime Minister Mackenzie Bowell, 1894-1896

A Very Canadian Coup is an absorbing story of political intrigue in a turbulent time. Through extensive research, Ted Glenn has created a meticulous account of a remarkable episode in Canada’s past. Stephen Azzi, professor of Political Management at Carleton University and author of Historical Dictionary of Canada

Few Canadians know that the key issue in the 1896 federal election was the Manitoba Schools question; fewer know that religion and language once played a very important part in our elections; and fewer still know that Sir Mackenzie Bowell, former Grandmaster of the Orange Lodge of British North America, proposed remedial legislation which would have returned to French Roman Catholics their rights to language and religion. Bowell’s views were controversial within his caucus and a coup was staged to remove him as Prime Minister. I well remember the heat the issue generated in the 1960s when my boss, the Honourable Duff Roblin, Premier of Manitoba, tried to restore justice. Ted Glenn is an excellent author with a sound command of the historical issues and the structure of the English language.

Joe Martin, author of Relentless Change, A Case Book for the Study of Canadian Business History

Ted Glenn has taken one of the most dramatic yet little-known events in Canadian history and made it come alive. He tells the detailed story with compelling language. His research is impeccable as he navigates the tricky issues of the 1890s. This is precisely how to present historical non-fiction. The characters shine through, one can sense the tone of the era and it reads like a suspense novel from beginning to end.

Michael Hill, Author of The Lost Prime Ministers