Donald Horne

The fascinating biography of a brilliant man who captured the nations imagination and boldly showed Australians who we were and how we could changeIn the 1960s, Donald Horne offered Australians a compelling reinterpretation of the Menzies years as a period of social and political inertia and mediocrity. His book The Lucky Country was profoundly influential and, without doubt, one of the most significant shots ever fired in Australias endless culture war.Ryan Cropps landmark biography positions Horne as an antipodean Orwell, a lively, independent and distinct literary voice searching for the temper of the people, accepting it, and moving on from there. Through the eyes and unforgettable words of this preternaturally observant and articulate man, we see a recognisable modern Australia emerge.Shortlisted for the 2024 National Biography AwardA compulsive read about a writer who shaped the way we Australians think about ourselves Judith BrettUnmissable for anybody interested in the intellectual life of this country Sean KellyRyan Cropps thoughtful life of Donald Horne charted the restless and provocative habits of his subject with care and elegance, and animated decades of faded news and current affairs with colour and poise. Patrick Mullins, Australian Book Review Books of the Year 2023In his accomplished and insightful biography Cropp has captured a full life, well lived, that was a tribute to the importance of paying attention and making a difference. Julianne Schultz, The Conversation