Too many Canadians see John A. Macdonald as a comic figure; his love of patronage and alcohol leads many to dismiss his essential role in the foundation of our country. Nation Maker, the second volume of author and journalist Richard Gwyn’s biography of Macdonald (the first volume, John A.: The Man Who Made Us, won the 2008 Charles Taylor Prize), aims to forever dispel this stereotype. Yes, Macdonald had his failings, but without him, Canada simply would not exist.

Gwyn paints Macdonald as an eminently pragmatic man prepared to do anything legal, if not completely moral, to achieve what was right for Canada. Gwyn stresses that, whatever his mistakes, Macdonald acted for the right reasons, even when his ideas, such as giving the vote to women and natives, went against the grain of popular feeling.

Beginning in 1867, the year of Canada’s Confederation, Gwyn’s explanations of key political events such as the Pacific Scandal and the Riel rebellions are often clearer than those found in textbooks. There is also much information that may not be well known, including Macdonald’s payments (from secret service funds) inducing Louis Riel to remain in exile after 1870, and his critical participation in the 1871 Washington Conference that prevented the U.K. and U.S. from summarily deciding Canada’s future.

Nation Maker also strives to bring Macdonald’s humanity to the fore. For example, his interest in and respect for the Plains Indians was far ahead of his time. We also meet Macdonald’s daughter Mary, born with hydrocephalus; Gwyn takes great care to depict their devoted, if trying, relationship. In fact, all the key historical characters are deftly described, which contributes hugely to making this book such an engaging read.

Against incredible odds, Macdonald created a country out of a group of people who did not share race, religion, or well-defined borders, and he persisted even when his fellow citizens weren’t convinced it was possible. Nation Maker brings a fresh, welcome perspective to the life of our founding father. Anyone who reads it will no longer be able to take this powerful, charismatic, and dedicated man for granted.