{"product_id":"9781925410884","title":"The Enigmatic Mr Deakin","description":"\u003cp\u003e \u003cb\u003e‘A biography of immense power that will restore Deakin to his proper place in the national imagination: the mystic politician who gave us Australia.’ David Marr\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e This insightful and accessible new biography of Alfred Deakin, Australia’s second prime minister, shines fresh light on one of the nation’s most significant figures. It brings out from behind the image of a worthy, bearded father of federation the gifted, passionate and intriguing man whose contributions continue to shape the contours of Australian politics.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e The acclaimed political scientist Judith Brett scrutinises both Deakin’s public life and his inner life. Deakin’s private papers reveal a solitary, religious character who found distasteful much of the business of politics, with its unabashed self-interest, double-dealing, and mediocre intellectual levels. And yet politics is where Deakin chose to do his life’s work.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e Destined to become a classic of biography, \u003ci\u003eThe Enigmatic Mr Deakin\u003c\/i\u003e is a masterly portrait of a complex man who was instrumental in creating modern Australia.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cb\u003eJudith Brett\u003c\/b\u003e is the award-winning author of \u003ci\u003eRobert Menzies’ Forgotten People\u003c\/i\u003e, emeritus professor of politics at La Trobe University and one of Australia’s leading political thinkers. She contributes regularly to the \u003ci\u003eMonthly\u003c\/i\u003e and has written three \u003ci\u003eQuarterly Essays\u003c\/i\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e ‘Judith Brett has resurrected a gallant democrat just when democracy seems most in need of redemption. This is a deeply engrossing portrait of a hero for our times, a complex, charismatic man with a unique capacity to build, to lead, to speak and to dream. Masterful, tender and utterly compelling.’ \u003cb\u003eClare Wright\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e ‘A fresh, revealing and insightful portrait of one of the great figures who shaped Australia.’ \u003cb\u003ePaul Kelly\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e 'This excellent biography will appeal to general readers, students and anyone interested in historical biography.’\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eBooks\u003c\/i\u003e+\u003ci\u003ePublishing\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e ‘Brett is a gifted interpreter of politics, past and present, and a sensitive reader of people, individually and en masse. That she has been able to encompass \u003ci\u003eThe Enigmatic Mr Deakin\u003c\/i\u003e in fewer than 500 pages, compared with double that of most “landmark” biographies, attests to a rare kind of writerly judgment: for discerning where the story lies and, crucially, for knowing what can be left out.’ \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eSaturday Paper\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e ‘Truly one of the great political biographies of our time, a delicately nuanced, warm and insight account of—my personal misgiving aside—one of the most noteworthy political figures in Australian history.’ \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eInside Story\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e ‘\u003ci\u003eThe Enigmatic Mr Deakin\u003c\/i\u003e stands as the culmination of her work on the history, politics and philosophy of Australian liberals, and it is the one biography of Deakin to which we will repeatedly return. Brett’s writing is capable of extraordinary clarity, insight and compassion.’ \u003cb\u003eMark McKenna, \u003ci\u003eMonthly\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e ‘This is a fine biography—accessible, perceptive, and in the best way, sympathetic. Deakin has found the interpreter he deserves for a modern audience…If our politicians still read books—and sometimes one does wonder—Judith Brett’s new biography should be required reading.’ \u003ci\u003e\u003cb\u003eAustralian Book Review\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e ‘A significant contribution to biography and political history that is beautifully written and full of interest.’ \u003ci\u003e\u003cb\u003eRoyal Victorian Historical Society\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e ‘Impressive…Brett displays an acute understanding of the intricacies of parliament and the political and policy issues of Deakin’s time…\u003ci\u003eThe Enigmatic Mr Deakin\u003c\/i\u003e has a lively prose style that shows a deep understanding of its perplexing subject. It is a fine book, and especially timely given the depressing state of modern politics.’ \u003ci\u003e\u003cb\u003eAustralian\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e ‘Accessible and informative, this style of biography layers facts over questions that draw in readers curious about what makes human beings do the things we do. This is biography for our times.’ \u003ci\u003e\u003cb\u003eDaily Review\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e ‘Judith Brett has rounded out Alfred Deakin in this fascinating biography that is a delight to read.’ \u003cb\u003eBoffins Books\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e ‘For sympathy and insight, Judith Brett’s \u003ci\u003eThe Enigmatic Mr Deakin\u003c\/i\u003e is a welcome contribution to analysis of Australian politics. A difficult subject, often deliberately elusive, is captured with skill. Through close and compelling reading of Deakin’s private writing, Brett brings to life his political thinking and spiritual wrestling. An important book.’ \u003cb\u003eGlyn Davies, Best Books of 2017, \u003ci\u003eAustralian Book Review\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e ‘\u003ci\u003eThe Enigmatic Mr Deakin\u003c\/i\u003e explores our second prime minister’s career with full attention to his intense inner life and family relationships. Her title points to the puzzles, but Brett doesn’t simplify; she ponders, suggests, dramatises. Closely observed and psychologically persuasive, this is more than a life-and-times; it is a life.’ \u003cb\u003eBrenda Niall, Best Books of 2017, \u003ci\u003eAustralian Book Review\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e ‘Judith Brett’s excellent \u003ci\u003eThe Enigmatic Mr Deakin\u003c\/i\u003e introduces this Federation-era giant to a modern audience: a timely reminder of the achievements and failings of a century ago, and perfect summer reading for any Australian politician whose aspirations rise above seat-warming.’ \u003cb\u003eFrank Bongiorno, Best Books of 2017, \u003ci\u003eAustralian Book Review\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e ‘Judith Brett achieves something rare in political biography: a synthesis of the public life with the beliefs, doubts, private struggles, and spiritual inquiry that made \u003ci\u003eThe Enigmatic Mr Deakin\u003c\/i\u003e our most intriguing prime minister.’ \u003cb\u003eJames Walter, Best Books of 2017, \u003ci\u003eAustralian Book Review\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e ‘A woman’s eye on a powerful man has never felt so penetrating, perceptive and, surprisingly, loving.’ \u003cb\u003eClare Wright, \u003ci\u003eSydney Morning Herald\u003c\/i\u003e’s Year in Reading\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e ‘This book is a window into a time of growth and democratisation, of shifting allegiances towards the common benefit of nationhood.’ \u003cb\u003eNick Mattiske, \u003ci\u003eInside Story\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e ‘Alfred Deakin, long my favourite Victorian, was truly the full package: polymath, progressive, idealist, spiritualist, man of action. And he had a fantastic beard. All he lacked was a good biography—but not anymore.’ \u003ci\u003e\u003cb\u003eSaturday Paper\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e, Best Books of 2017\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"The Text Publishing Company","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47141111988464,"sku":"9781925410884","price":9.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0737\/7593\/9824\/files\/9781925410884_p0.jpg?v=1763634376","url":"https:\/\/shop-qa.barnesandnoble.com\/products\/9781925410884","provider":"Barnes \u0026 Noble (DEV)","version":"1.0","type":"link"}