Barwick by David Marr

Book Description

Secondhand. Very good condition. Minor wear to book corners and edges. Previous owner has signed inside page, now covered with blank ex libris bookplate sticker. Dust jacket has light creasing at edges and spine. Fading to spine. Body text and binding are still excellent.

For 40 years, Sir Garfield Barwick (1903-1997) stood at the centre of power in Australia. This is the first detailed account of his life and works.

He was the advocate who saved the private banks from Chifley, fought to destroy the Communist Party, and brought the Petroc Commission back from the brink of fiasco. He was the Attorney-General who reformed the divorce law, introduced some of the harshest security laws in the democratic world, and tried to curb the power of the great cartels. He was the Foreign Minister who put Australian troops into Vietnam, negotiated the treaty for the US military base at North West Cape, and steered Australia through troubles with Indonesia. He was the Chief Justice who broke down the tax laws, dramatically advanced the power of Canberra and gave Sir John Kerr the constitutional imprimatur to dismiss the Whitlam Government.

Barwich presents a complex, driven man, with unexpected contracts - a lay preacher, pioneer skier, friend of the royal family, conservationist, and above all, a man with a relentless capacity for work. (back cover)