AustLit

'Any account of the life of Herbert Vere Evatt must address two key questions: could the Labor split of the mid 1950s have been avoided with a leader other than Evatt, and was Evatt “mad”? John Murphy tackles these issues and more in a very readable account of one of Australian politics’ most perplexing characters. Evatt has perhaps been the subject of more studies than many prime ministers, which would be small solace to a man who so greatly craved that high office but who, after failing to reach it by a slim margin in 1954, spent the next six years in very public political and psychological disintegration.' (Introduction)   

'“A fascinating mixture of two stories,” was how Bob Hawke described this new biography of Anthony Albanese when it was launched at Parliament House last week. Hawke was referring to Karen Middleton’s skilful interweaving of Albanese’s personal history with a dramatic account of his life in politics. The personal story, culminating in an account of how he recently met the father he had never known, has a strong emotional dimension that will engage many readers. And the political side of the narrative was to take a sudden turn that very afternoon, only a few hours after the launch.' (Introduction)   

'Under his pseudonym “the Vagabond,” John Stanley James explored Australia’s major capital cities with fresh eyes in the 1870s and 80s. Here, he takes a culinary journey through Melbourne’s back streets' (Publication summary)

'Unions, residents and community groups took on a powerful government agency to thwart plans for the wholesale redevelopment of Australia’s oldest suburb, writes Jim Colman'

'Much has changed since the earliest photojournalism, write Sally Young and Fay Anderson. But some challenges have made a comeback in the digital age'