Sir Henry Parkes: The Australian Colossus

Publisher’s description:
There has never been anyone else like Sir Henry Parkes in Australian public life; he was the father of federation and premier of NSW, and a statesman, visionary, political leader, poet, and humanist. The 27th of May 2015 marked the 200th anniversary of the birth of Sir Henry Parkes.

Parkes received little schooling and worked on a rope-walk, breaking stones, as an ivory and bone turner, ironmonger, labourer and on the wharves before trying business life and ultimately politics. He and his first wife travelled to Australia on an assisted passage. Parkes steadily educated himself, reading voraciously and widely, including all the great poets.

Author: Stephen Dando-Collins

Publisher: Random House Australia

Format: Paperback

Pages: 432 pages

Published: 1 November 2014

ISBN: 9781742757995