Adrienne Clarkson's book.

[Ricki Bobbi]

Haven't read the book, but Margaret Wente's column on it in today's Globe says some pretty interesting things about the book. (No link, the column is subscriber only.)

She makes some interesting points.

She also takes swings at those whom she cordially (or not so cordially) detests, most notably the constitutionally ignorant Paul Martin and his unelected band of ill-dressed thugs.

Some snobish and insulting points. (Although I think she is confusing Montreal intelligentsia culture for Quebec culture.)

In any event, she clearly prefers French to English culture. The English worship vacuous celebrity, while the French worship the intelligentsia. "Only in Quebec have I seen that Canadians truly understand that culture is an expression of their highest aspirations as human beings," she writes. "I think there's an unconscious envy of this in the rest of the country."

She tries to defend her and hubby's pomposity.

She does not explain why her husband insisted on being addressed as "Your Excellency" (as was his right) and why he had his aides encourage event organizers to have people stand when he entered a room, even when she wasn't there. Some people thought this behaviour was stupefyingly pompous. But maybe it was just French.

Don't know if I want to contribute to Clarkson's bank account but it seems like ti would be an interesting read.

[August1991]

Discussed here.

[Ricki Bobbi]

Any comments on Wente's article then?

[betsy]

Clarkson disses the Queen

In new book, ex-GG gets all haughty about royal manners but experts say she misses the point

Oct. 3, 2006. 07:46 AM

DAVID GRAHAM

LIFE WRITER

Has the student surpassed the teacher?

Has former Governor General Adrienne Clarkson polished her refined politeness to such a brilliant sheen that she can now pass judgment on Britain's Queen of courtly behaviour, the royal She herself — QE-2?

In her book Heart Matters, Clarkson, the Queen's representative in Canada from 1999 to 2005, takes a swipe at Liz for daring to powder her privileged puss during a fancy dinner party. Clarkson was gob-smacked and insists that such a breach of etiquette would never be tolerated in Canada.

It gets worse.

http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentSe...4&t=TS_Home

I guess she believe the more dirt she piles up in her "tell-all", the better it sells!

To really make a big deal about the queen powdering her nose? A pity she'd chosen to lump herself with former stablehands and butlers- turned- book- authors, attempting to cash in on the royal dirt hunt!

So she thinks that? So petty. Big deal!

Btw, did she bring up the outrage over her extravagant spendings while GG? I haven't read the book...and have no intention to.

[August1991]

I figure this recent article about the Queen is a PR's attempt to raise visibility and sales.

This thread is an example. Mission accomplished.

[betsy]

I figure this recent article about the Queen is a PR's attempt to raise visibility and sales.

This thread is an example. Mission accomplished.

True! She's doing the round, as they say.

I saw her being interviewed one-on-one on tv but I wasn't really listening. They were talking about powder (I thought she was giving tips how they did it in China! There was some giggling involved.). Only when I saw this article did I understand what it was all about.

It's nothing more than a publicity stunt. Quite revealing though....when someone of her supposed stature would stoop to that.