John Wren: A Life Reconsidered - Softcover

Griffin, James

Softcover

ISBN 10: 192076948X ISBN 13: 9781920769482

Publisher: Scribe Publications Pty Ltd., 2007

Synopsis

This revisionist biography of Australian entrepreneur John Wren, who was made infamous by Frank Hardy’s influential novel Power Without Glory, reexamines the historical evidence that wrongly vilified John Wren and made him the scapegoat of Australia’s culture wars. By demonstrating Frank Hardy's earlier research to be fraudulent and motivated by personal agendas, Wren is revealed to be a generous benefactor to his class and family whose working class origins and illegal gambling pursuits barred his ascension to a position of high societal regard a position he did not actively pursue.

About this title

About the Author:

James Griffin is a professor emeritus of the University of Papua New Guinea and has been a frequent contributor to the Australian Dictionary of Biography, which includes his notable entries on Archbishop Daniel Mannix and John Wren.

Review:

"The latest—and best by far—biography of John Wren . . . Griffin not only demolishes Power Without Glory as an account of Wren's career but also exposes many respectable historians and writers, from Manning Clark down, who have used it as a source or even built on it to create an even wilder legend."  —Robert Murray, The Australian

"An unquestioningly authoritative and lively reconsideration of John Wren . . . [a] fine biography."  —Chris McConville, Australian Book Review

About this edition

• Publisher: Scribe Publications Pty Ltd.
• Publication date: 2007
• ISBN 10: 192076948X
• ISBN 13: 9781920769482
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 448