Speaking Up: A History of Language and Politics in Canada and Quebec - Softcover

Marcel Martel is professor of history and holds the Avie Bennett Historica-Dominion Institute Chair in Canadian History at York University.

PRAISE FOR Speaking Up

"Martel and Pâquet leave no doubt about the centrality of language to political life in Canada and Quebec. A must read for anyone wishing to understand language debates in Canada's past and present."
—Sean Mills, Assistant Professor of History, University of Toronto

"Through its impressive national scope, Speaking Up sheds new light on the history of minority-majority relations in the country. With a subtle understanding of the concerns of linguistic groups, primarily French and English, but also including Aboriginal and other languages, Martel and Pâquet deliver an engaging and convincing exploration of ethnic identities, schooling conflicts, and communication politics in a complex country."
—Colin M. Coates, Director, Robarts Centre for Canadian Studies, York University

"Speaking Up is an indispensable guide for anyone seeking to understand the place of language in Quebec politics. It is impossible to understand this province, or the desire of some here for independence, without an understanding of the historical context that defines the Québécois identity. Meticulously researched and comprehensive in scope, Speaking Up provides exactly that context. It should be required reading for English-Canadian pundits, most of whom so profoundly misunderstand this province."
—Ethan Cox, Montreal-based writer, activist and political commentator, and the Quebec correspondent for rabble.ca