John Curtin: A Life

by David Day

David Day's biography John Curtin: A Life will be the first to critically reassess Australia's best remembered leader and examine his importance as the first prime minister to encourage a sense of Australian nationalism. John Curtin was the Labor Prime Minister from 1941 to 1945. It was during these turbulent times that Curtin decided to look no longer to Britain for assistance but to turn instead to America. He was the leader who welcomed Douglas MacArthur to Australia but who later tried to close the Pandora's box that he had opened. He was the leader who stood up to Churchill over returning Australian troops to Australia but who later allowed some to be detained in Ceylon and who, towards the end of the war, embraced Australia's membership of the Empire through all the twists and turns of his life, the many tragedies and conflicts, the dark days and the long anxious nights, Curtin's story remains one of the most inspiring Australian stories of the century. It is the story of a man who selflessly devoted his life to the service of his fellow Australians and who died while victory against Japan was in sight. John Curtin: A Life is a story in the tradition of Albert Facey and Weary Dunlop. It is the story of an ordinary person who finds himself confronted with extraordinary circumstances and ultimately triumphs. David Day's exploration into Curtin's past has uncovered not only the political persona but also the man. He looks at the demons and weaknesses that drove and shaped the man, and through him, shaped modern Australia. John Curtin: A Life is the most serious and substantial biography of John Curtin, looking closely for the first time at his childhood in order to explain his later life. All told, it is the story of an Australian hero that is both inspiring and finally, very moving. 'this is indeed a superbly researched biography' - Kim Beazley, speech to National Press Club 'A fine biography of a complex, flawed, self-sacrificing but ultimately triumphant personality - one of the great figures of Australian history' - Weekend Australian

Genres: Biography, History, Australia, Politics, Biography Memoir, World War II, Nonfiction

610 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1999

About the author

David Day has written widely on Australian history and the history of World War II. His biography of John Curtin won the 2000 Queensland Premier’s Literary Awards Prize for History and was shortlisted for the 2000 New South Wales Premier’s Literary Awards Douglas Stewart Prize for Non-Fiction, while his biography of Ben Chifley was shortlisted for the New South Wales Premier’s Award for History in 2002. David Day is currently an Honorary Associate with the History Program at La Trobe University and a visiting professor at the University of Aberdeen. He lives in Eltham, Victoria.

1986: Menzies and Churchill at War
1988: The Great Betrayal: Britain, Australia and the Onset of the Pacific War, 1939-42
1992: Reluctant Nation: Australia and the Allied Defeat of Japan, 1942-45
1992: Smugglers and Sailors: The Customs History of Australia, 1788-1901
1996: Contraband and Controversy: The Customs History of Australia from 1901
1996: Claiming a Continent: A New History of Australia
1999: John Curtin: A Life
2001: Chifley
2003: The Politics of War
2005: Conquest: A New History of the Modern World - ISBN 0732277655
2007: The Weather Watchers - ISBN 9780522852752
2008: Andrew Fisher: Prime Minister of Australia

Reviews

[Nick · Rating 4 out of 5]

John Curtin led Australia through World War II, and is acknowledged as one of Australia's greatest prime ministers. David Day's well researched and balanced account of John Curtin's life is a must read for any Australian, if for no other reason than to gain an understanding of how Australia's military and political relationships were formed, and the roots of the Labor Party in Australia. Curtin's selfless dedication to the good of Australia shines through in this book, and his struggle with what would doubtless be diagnosed today as bi-polar disorder lifts his efforts onto the level of the heroic.
Compelling read.

[Ned Charles · Rating 4 out of 5]

Australian WWII PM John Curtain. Well written and easy to read.
A book for any Australian who is interested in the people who formed the path to where we are today.
Despite the Japanese having dropped more bombs on Darwin than Pearl Harbour, the British were insistent, Australia must continue to give full devotion to the British war machine. Against the British demands Curtain redirected troops and boats, then history was made in New Guinea and the start of a strong bond between USA and Australia was formed.
Unwell, Curtain died in office before the end of the war with Japan.

[Elijah Freeman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Incredibly readable. This book gave me some fascinating insights into the man and the worlds in which he operated before becoming the country's best wartime PM.

[Rod Hunt · Rating 3 out of 5]

A detailed and fair biography. Explodes some of the myths about Australia at war, Australian foreign policy and Curtin’s death in office. One for students& teachers.

[Weaponisedfunk · Rating 4 out of 5]

I can only presume most readers will come to this biography as war history buffs, given the geopolitical backdrop of Curtin’s Prime Ministership, but Day makes these sections of the text seem almost perfunctory, with the main thrust of the text detailing instead Curtin’s time as a socialist organiser and unionist in resplendent detail. Limited in part by the dearth of extant primary sources (Chifley is mentioned as a close friend a few times, but the book contains little detail on their interpersonal relationship), but thankfully never devolves into historical fiction, unlike Day’s biography of Fisher.

[Lorenz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Informative and easy to read, even for those not really familiar with Australian political history. Highly-recommended.

[Kiz]

A great Australian leader who shone through one of Aus' toughest eras, ww2. All the more amazing a character when you realise he was labouring under the effects of bi-polar disease. Very insightful read, and a must-read for those interested in Australian politics

[Jodi · Rating 4 out of 5]

09 May 2010 - very informative about the man and the era.