Dismissal

by Nicholas Hasluck

A thrilling tale of legal and political intrigue, betrayal, spies and treason, spanning the tumultuous decades in Australia leading up to 'The Dismissal' in 1975, and a compelling tour - by an insider - through the corridors of parliamentary power the young idealist never knows where his good intentions may finish up. When Roy temple and his friends are accused of espionage in the Cold War era, a cloud of suspicion will linger over them for years, although they are never charged with any crime. twenty years later, Roy is a leading barrister and key adviser to the federal government, with a bold plan to resolve Australia's political crisis. But the old allegations cast long shadows, and even those he wishes to help doubt his motivation - does he want to save the government, or save himself? Amid half-truths, leaks, intrigues and false denials, Roy is forced to confront his past to discover who he can trust-and who has betrayed him all along. Dismissal is a compelling political drama of the highest order, and an insider's view of the democratic roundabout, with all its flaws, corruptions and dynamic energies.

343 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 8, 2011

Reviews

[Ian Reid · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fine example of political fiction grounded in historical fact - a genre that few novelists in Australia have successfully grappled with. Dismissal is an absorbing tale of espionage, ethical dilemmas and personal disloyalties in Australia during the period from the 1930s to the fall of the Whitlam government. I can't think of any other novelist so well equipped to write this kind of work.

[Alex Rogers · Rating 1 out of 5]

disappointing - struggled with it for 50 pages before giving up. I kept asking myself 'Why?" and never got a good answer. You'd need to be a real fan of historical Australian politics (Maybe John Howard could answer the question.)

[Pete Loveday · Rating 2 out of 5]

not a very inspiring book and I felt a self indulgent rant by the author