THE CHANGING OF THE GUARD: HOW THE LIBERALS FELL FROM GRACE AND THE TORIES ROSE TO POWER. Snider, Norman. Toronto, Lester & Orpen Dennys, c1985. 206pp, cloth, $19.95, ISBN 0-88619-090-5.CIP Grades 12 and up Reviewed by Thomas F. Chambers Volume 13 Number 6 1985 November Norman Snider is a journalist who has written articles for leading Canadian magazines. He also has a weekly column in The Globe and Mail. The Changing of the Guard is his account of Canadian politics from January 1983 to the federal election of September 1984. In January 1983, Progressive Conservative leader Joe Clark received the support of 66.9 per cent of the delegates at the Winnipeg convention. His decision to step down as leader opened the door for Brian Mulroney to emerge as the new Tory leader. In February 1984, Pierre Trudeau announced that he was stepping down as Liberal party leader and prime minister of Canada. This led to his replacement by John Turner, who had left Trudeau's cabinet in 1975. For those interested in politics, the events retold by Snider contain the stuff of greatness. But in Snider's hands, the story never achieves the drama one expects. He goes through the motions and tries to ignite a spark beneath the kindling provided for him, but the flames never come. The title of Snider's book is misleading. Neither he, nor any other author, could explain how the Liberals lost the 1984 federal election in two hundred pages. The subject is too complex. To attempt to do so does not do justice to Canadian politics in the 1980s. It is also not fair to the Canadians who want a deeper understanding of their political system. Thomas F. Chambers, Canadore C.C., North Bay, Ont.