Governor General Adrienne Clarkson is set to write a memoir of her life and her six years in office, a close source has revealed.

Her revelations are likely to detail her true feelings about Prime Minister Paul Martin and what she feels was poor treatment by the Martin government, the source told The Globe and Mail.

"She has a lot to say," the source told The Globe. "Anybody who has been around her, from her staff to her friends to her associates, will know that she does not feel, and has not felt, well-treated in the last two years."

Clarkson and her husband, philosopher and author John Ralston-Saul, came under intense fire from MPs for what some say was lavish spending during her time in office.

Their $5-million state visit in 2003, which took them to three countries, provoked a great deal of anger and resulted in Clarkson's officials being hauled before a House of Commons committee inquiry, and the recommendation that her budget be slashed.

Clarkson, who was appointed by Martin's rival, Jean Chrétien, leaves her post on Tuesday. She will be succeeded by Radio-Canada journalist Michaëlle Jean.

Although she has made few comments about her memoir, the source told The Globe that Clarkson will "say what she really thinks."

He added that the only thing that may constrain her is "respect for the office."

"She will weigh what she wants to say, but will do it in a way that gets whatever message she wants across and this is her vehicle."

Clarkson is being represented by her friend, Toronto lawyer and agent to many leading cultural figures in Canada, Michael Levine.

He has had a long relationship with the couple, having represented Saul for more than 40 years. Levine was a frequent guest at Rideau Hall during the past six years and is said to be trusted by the couple.

Yesterday, he refused to confirm reports that she has received an advance of $250,000 for her memoir.

"Don't believe everything you read," he told The Globe.

However, Peter C. Newman, whose explosive book on Brian Mulroney recently hit the stores, wrote in his memoir that his agent, Levine, successfully negotiated for him an astounding advance of $500,000 for his book on the Hudson's Bay Co.

Levine said that "there will be a great deal of news in the next six to eight weeks" regarding Clarkson's future.

However, he said the couple's life has been so "hectic" of late that they have not had time to sit down to get their thoughts together.

Clarkson has been keeping a very busy schedule over the past few days. Earlier this week, she was honoured by the Canadian Forces in an unprecedented and nearly two-hour-long ceremony on Parliament Hill.

Clarkson will spend her final days as Governor General in Quebec City, and on Monday will be feted at a reception on the Hill by the House of Commons and Senate.

Martin is holding a goodbye dinner for her at 24 Sussex Drive on Monday.