"The list of paradoxes characterizing Montreal is a long one. The portrait that Annick Germain and Damaris Rose paint of this intriguing city, caught in the maelstrom of political debate that permeates most of its urban issues, is both wide-ranging and fine-grained. At the heart of this debate lies the "National Question", addressing Quebec's place vis-a-vis the Canadian federation. Building on a vast array of recent research, the authors, themselves forming a team that reflects the bilingual, bicultural character of Montreal, explore the twists and turns of Montreal's perennial quest for an identity and a mission worthy of a metropolis."--BOOK JACKET.