George Grant (1918-1988) is the most engaging and provocative writer to have dealt with Canadian politics in the last fifty years. His" Lament for a Nation" (1965) is an undisputed classic of our nation's political literature. An instant best-seller on account of its practical political argument, it has endured as an interpretation of Canadian history and a justification for nationalism in this country. Along with Grant's other books, it has also helped to clarify what is meant by the 'malaise of modernity' said to characterize our time, and thus has served to introduce more than a generation of students to the basic questions of political philosophy.

This study aims to guide the reader toward a clearer understanding of Grant's thought. Focusing on his six short books and some of his most revealing articles and addresses, it serves as both an introduction to and an overview of George Grant's career and his many contributions to the fields of political science, philosophy, religion, and Canadian studies. Hugh Donald Forbes relates Grant's work to that of three disparate and controversial European thinkers - Martin Heidegger, Leo Strauss, and Simone Weil - exploring Grant outside of the strictly Canadian framework in which he is normally situated.

This volume offers fresh perspective on the work of an important political philosopher. It will prove invaluable reading for students new to the subject as well as for those interested in a comprehensive study of an outstanding Canadian thinker.