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City UniqueMontreal Days and Nights in the 1940s and '50sby William Weintraub |
Montreal in the 1940s and '50s was Canada's largest, richest, most vibrant and colourful city. It was, at the end of those prosperous decades, "bursting at the seams" and still growing. No one could then foresee that political and economic factors would cripple the city and send it into a long decline. William Weintraub, writing with insight and affection, brings the Montreal of his youth vividly, entertainingly and wittily to life in this remarkable book. The Montreal he describes so effectively was a city with two communities, English and French, who lived separate lives. They met along the dividing line that was "The Main" St. Lawrence Boulevard and the nearby streets, where gambling joints, bordellos and night clubs prospered, and where striptease artiste Lili St. Cyr became the toast of the town and gangsters raked in profits while the police looked the other way. It was the Montreal of the colourful and charismatic mayor Camilien Houde within the repressive and corrupt Quebec of premier Maurice Duplessis. William Weintraub looks at all aspects
of life in Montreal in what Mordecai Richler called "an
engaging, evocative book about Montreal's prime-time." City Unique was first published in 1997 by McClelland & Stewart. It was on the Montreal Gazette bestseller list for more than a year. |
**** WINNER QSPELL AWA RD **** "For years, I had been hoping someone would write a book about Montreal in the 1940s. No one could have done it as well, as wittily and as accurately as Bill Weintraub." Mavis Gallant "This is a dandy book, well researched, tightly written, fun to read." Dane Lanken, Montreal Gazette "Not only a highly readable book about Montreal, but a moving and important portrait of the Canada that was." Peter C. Newman, Vancouver Sun "C'est l'amour indéracinable d'un vrai Montréalais pour sa ville." Sophie Gironnay, L'Actualité Reads like a sweet dream a wonderful book: high spirited and entertaining, just the right mix of analysis and sentiment." CharlesForan, Quill & Quire About the author William Weintraub was born in Montreal
and worked there during the 1940s and '50s. After graduating
from McGill University, he became a reporter for the Gazette
and then a writer and copy-editor for Weekend Magazine.
Later, as writer, director and producer with the National Film
Board, he was involved in the production of some 150 films. He
is the author of two comic novels, Why Rock the Boat?
and The Underdogs, and a memoir of his early days as a
writer, Getting Started. |
The details 340 pages, 6 x 9 inches, paperback B/w photos Bibliography, index |
Publication, Robin Brass Studio edition: November 2004 ISBN 1-896941-42-7 In Canada: $24.95 In U.S.A.: $21.95 |
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