David Wilson may just be Thomas D’Arcy McGee’s biggest fan. In the second volume of his biography (following 2008’s Thomas D’Arcy McGee: Passion, Reason, and Politics, 1825–1857), Wilson shows how both McGee’s words and actions played a key part in creating what we can recognize as our modern Canadian consciousness.

This volume begins with McGee’s arrival in Canada. Wilson links McGee’s experiences with violence between Catholics and Protestants in the Old World to his goal of fostering an open and tolerant Canadian society. McGee believed in avoiding all forms of radicalism, and is thus representative of the importance of compromise and non-violence in the formation of Canada. While his focus on co-operation led to accusations of treachery from Irish Catholic nationalists, McGee saw this as the only way to achieve national harmony in an already diverse colony. Since his efforts resulted in the enshrinment of minority rights in our Constitution, it’s easy to agree with Wilson that McGee’s tactics were the correct ones.

The book contains more rich detail about McGee’s life than can be covered here. To take only one example: Wilson gives a fascinating account of the rise of Fenianism in North America. While some historians consider the group’s plans to invade Canada foolish, Wilson successfully argues that the fear they engendered within the colony played a key role in the acceptance of Confederation. This is especially relevant in the life of McGee, both because he fought so hard to prevent the Fenians’ ascendance, while also using them to prove that Confederation was necessary, and because it was a Fenian sympathizer who was responsible for making McGee the victim of Canada’s first political assassination.

In fact, the description of McGee’s 1868 murder is the book’s only weakness. Wilson’s decision to move from a narrative mode to a journalistic one is jarring; McGee’s death should draw on the emotion skilfully built up to this point, but instead the reader is left feeling detached. With that small exception, these two volumes make for an excellent whole, and this book should join the Canadian canon of important political biographies. The skilful blend of McGee’s own words and Wilson’s analysis will surely make even the most disinterested student of history feel at least a tiny bit prouder to be Canadian.