The Masques of Ottawa

A lively, lyrical portrait opens with a sweeping view of Canada’s capital, likening its grand parliament buildings and river‑lined avenues to a theatrical set. The narrator, both observer and participant, sketches the city’s ambition to rival the great capitals of Europe while probing the practical compromises that shaped its streets and institutions. Through vivid description the book captures the paradox of a place built for both convenience and grand spectacle.

From there the focus shifts to the actors on Ottawa’s stage—politicians, their families, and the bustling cafés where whispered commentary swirls like the winter snow. The prose balances sharp satire with genuine admiration, exposing the rituals of “promises and pie crusts” alongside the quieter power plays of wives and regional voices. Readers are drawn into a world where every debate feels like a scene, every policy a line, and the city itself a living masque that reflects Canada’s evolving identity.