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Becoming John Curtin and James Scullin : Their Early Political Careers and the Making of the Modern Labor Party
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'Before becoming the prime ministers who led Australia in moments of extraordinary crisis and transformation, John Curtin and James Scullin were two young working-class men who dreamt of changing their country for the better. Becoming John Curtin and James Scullin tells the tale of their intertwined early lives as both men became labour intellectuals and powerbrokers at the beginning of the twentieth century. It reveals the underappreciated role each man played in the events that defined the modern Australian Labor Party- its first experience of national government, the turmoil of war, the great conscription clash and party split of 1916, and the heated debates over the party's socialist objective.
'Becoming John Curtin and James Scullin shows how they became the leaders that history knows best by painting a portrait of two young men struggling to establish their identities and find their place in the world. It tells of their great friendships, loves and passions, and reminds us that these were real men, with real weaknesses, desires and dreams. It explains how their early political careers set the scene for their later prime ministerships as they honed the techniques of power that led them to the summit of Australian politics.
'This is the story of two young men striving to better the world they had inherited, a story of optimism and hope with enduring relevance for today's troubled politics.' (Publication summary)
Publication Details of Only Known VersionEarliest 2 Known Versions of
Works about this Work
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Carolyn Holbrook Review of Liam Byrne, Becoming John Curtin and James Scullin : The Making of the Modern Labor Party, 1876–1921
2022
single work
review
— Appears in: Australian Journal of Biography and History , no. 6 2022; (p. 219-222)
— Review of Becoming John Curtin and James Scullin : Their Early Political Careers and the Making of the Modern Labor Party 2020 single work biography 'Liam Byrne’s biography of James Scullin and John Curtin was launched online in July 2020 by the ACTU1 Secretary Sally McManus and former Labor treasurer Wayne Swan. It was an exciting time to launch a book about the labour movement and its fledgling parliamentary wing. Walter Scheidel’s The Great Leveller listed pandemics among the catastrophes that had upended the status quo of gross inequality over the course of history. Could COVID-19 be such a catastrophe? McManus, together with former ACTU secretary Greg Combet and other labour leaders, had worked cooperatively with the Coalition Government and business in responding to the pandemic. Optimistic progressives were wondering if the unfolding crisis might provide an opportunity for fundamental reform, such as John Curtin and Ben Chifley had seized for the period after the Second World War. Stuart Macintyre’s account of the postwar reconstruction, Australia’s Boldest Experiment, was on the reading list of Labor parliamentarians.'(Introduction)
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Liam Byrne Explores the Early Lives of Two Labor Prime Ministers
2021
single work
review
— Appears in: History Australia , vol. 18 no. 2 2021; (p. 401-402)
— Review of Becoming John Curtin and James Scullin : Their Early Political Careers and the Making of the Modern Labor Party 2020 single work biography'James Scullin and John Curtin were both Labor Prime Ministers at times of national crises. Scullin led Labor to electoral victory in October 1929. Prime Minister Bruce had called an early election after he was unable to pass legislation to streamline Australia’s arbitration system. Less than two weeks later, Wall Street crashed and Scullin had to manage the ensuing Depression. Curtin became Prime Minister after the Coalition government fell on the floor of the house in October 1941. Two months later, the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbour. Scullin’s government was torn apart by the conflicting demands of labour and capital, whereas Curtin’s government successfully mobilised the country for war. Where Curtin’s achievements have been lauded and intensely researched, Scullin has been seen as a tragic figure and has attracted little historical interest. This book remedies this somewhat, bringing him into the same frame as Curtin to explore their shared political formations in the early labour movement.' (Introduction)
-
[Review] Becoming John Curtin and James Scullin
2021
single work
review
— Appears in: Australian Journal of Politics and History , March 2021 vol. 67 no. 1 2021; (p. 171-172)
— Review of Becoming John Curtin and James Scullin : Their Early Political Careers and the Making of the Modern Labor Party 2020 single work biography'In Becoming John Curtin and James Scullin: The Making of the Modern Labor Party, Liam Byrne imagines the early Australian Labor Party (ALP) as an organisation of “creative tension”, where policy was determined by ideological contests between socialists and moderate reformers, both sides sharing a commitment to progressive change and transformation through parliamentary action. Byrne wants the Labor Party today to rediscover and revive this culture, this capacity “to host alternative worldviews of commitment to social change within the structures of the party” (p. 171). His book is positioned as a contribution to contemporary debates within the ALP about the party's purpose and direction.' (Introduction)
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Before the Triumphs and the Tragedies
2020
single work
review
— Appears in: Inside Story , June 2020;
— Review of Becoming John Curtin and James Scullin : Their Early Political Careers and the Making of the Modern Labor Party 2020 single work biography 'A new book rescues two Labor prime ministers, James Scullin and John Curtin, from caricature' -
[Review] Becoming John Curtin and James Scullin : The Making of the Modern Labor Party, 1876–1921
2020
single work
review
— Appears in: Australian Historical Studies , vol. 51 no. 4 2020; (p. 506-507)
— Review of Becoming John Curtin and James Scullin : Their Early Political Careers and the Making of the Modern Labor Party 2020 single work biography'John Curtin and James Scullin are commonly judged according to their respective struggles with World War II and the Great Depression. One is as close to being revered as any Australian prime minister has come; the other is, at best, pitied.' (Introduction)
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Myths and Realities : Two Labor Prime Ministers from Gold Towns
2020
single work
review
— Appears in: Australian Book Review , June-July no. 422 2020; (p. 11-12)
— Review of Becoming John Curtin and James Scullin : Their Early Political Careers and the Making of the Modern Labor Party 2020 single work biography -
[Review] Becoming John Curtin and James Scullin : The Making of the Modern Labor Party, 1876–1921
2020
single work
review
— Appears in: Australian Historical Studies , vol. 51 no. 4 2020; (p. 506-507)
— Review of Becoming John Curtin and James Scullin : Their Early Political Careers and the Making of the Modern Labor Party 2020 single work biography'John Curtin and James Scullin are commonly judged according to their respective struggles with World War II and the Great Depression. One is as close to being revered as any Australian prime minister has come; the other is, at best, pitied.' (Introduction)
-
[Review] Becoming John Curtin and James Scullin
2021
single work
review
— Appears in: Australian Journal of Politics and History , March 2021 vol. 67 no. 1 2021; (p. 171-172)
— Review of Becoming John Curtin and James Scullin : Their Early Political Careers and the Making of the Modern Labor Party 2020 single work biography'In Becoming John Curtin and James Scullin: The Making of the Modern Labor Party, Liam Byrne imagines the early Australian Labor Party (ALP) as an organisation of “creative tension”, where policy was determined by ideological contests between socialists and moderate reformers, both sides sharing a commitment to progressive change and transformation through parliamentary action. Byrne wants the Labor Party today to rediscover and revive this culture, this capacity “to host alternative worldviews of commitment to social change within the structures of the party” (p. 171). His book is positioned as a contribution to contemporary debates within the ALP about the party's purpose and direction.' (Introduction)
-
Liam Byrne Explores the Early Lives of Two Labor Prime Ministers
2021
single work
review
— Appears in: History Australia , vol. 18 no. 2 2021; (p. 401-402)
— Review of Becoming John Curtin and James Scullin : Their Early Political Careers and the Making of the Modern Labor Party 2020 single work biography'James Scullin and John Curtin were both Labor Prime Ministers at times of national crises. Scullin led Labor to electoral victory in October 1929. Prime Minister Bruce had called an early election after he was unable to pass legislation to streamline Australia’s arbitration system. Less than two weeks later, Wall Street crashed and Scullin had to manage the ensuing Depression. Curtin became Prime Minister after the Coalition government fell on the floor of the house in October 1941. Two months later, the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbour. Scullin’s government was torn apart by the conflicting demands of labour and capital, whereas Curtin’s government successfully mobilised the country for war. Where Curtin’s achievements have been lauded and intensely researched, Scullin has been seen as a tragic figure and has attracted little historical interest. This book remedies this somewhat, bringing him into the same frame as Curtin to explore their shared political formations in the early labour movement.' (Introduction)
-
Carolyn Holbrook Review of Liam Byrne, Becoming John Curtin and James Scullin : The Making of the Modern Labor Party, 1876–1921
2022
single work
review
— Appears in: Australian Journal of Biography and History , no. 6 2022; (p. 219-222)
— Review of Becoming John Curtin and James Scullin : Their Early Political Careers and the Making of the Modern Labor Party 2020 single work biography 'Liam Byrne’s biography of James Scullin and John Curtin was launched online in July 2020 by the ACTU1 Secretary Sally McManus and former Labor treasurer Wayne Swan. It was an exciting time to launch a book about the labour movement and its fledgling parliamentary wing. Walter Scheidel’s The Great Leveller listed pandemics among the catastrophes that had upended the status quo of gross inequality over the course of history. Could COVID-19 be such a catastrophe? McManus, together with former ACTU secretary Greg Combet and other labour leaders, had worked cooperatively with the Coalition Government and business in responding to the pandemic. Optimistic progressives were wondering if the unfolding crisis might provide an opportunity for fundamental reform, such as John Curtin and Ben Chifley had seized for the period after the Second World War. Stuart Macintyre’s account of the postwar reconstruction, Australia’s Boldest Experiment, was on the reading list of Labor parliamentarians.'(Introduction)
