Accessibility Tools

  • Content scaling 100%
  • Font size 100%
  • Line height 100%
  • Letter spacing 100%

For the True Believers: Great Labor speeches that shaped history edited by Troy Bramston

by
December 2013–January 2014, no. 357

For the True Believers: Great Labor speeches that shaped history edited by Troy Bramston

The Federation Press, $64.95 hb, 480 pp

For the True Believers: Great Labor speeches that shaped history edited by Troy Bramston

by
December 2013–January 2014, no. 357
‘Well may we say “God Save the Queen”, because nothing will save the Governor-General.’

Gough Whitlam’s famous words during his impromptu speech after the Dismissal in 1975 remain a potent symbol of the excitements and turbulence of the Whitlam era. As Troy Bramston’s collection of ALP speeches since 1891 reminds us, political speeches can capture a national mood or sentiment at a particular time in history. Indeed, a carefully crafted set of words can become a treasured part of our national self-image. They can also boost or destroy a politician’s reputation. In an age when the media has become uncritically obsessed with gaffes, Twitter banalities, polls, and sound bites, it is worth remembering that a good speech can elevate the national conversation and appeal to our better instincts.

Lyndon Megarrity reviews 'For The True Believers: Great Labor speeches that shaped history' by Troy Bramston

For the True Believers: Great Labor speeches that shaped history

edited by Troy Bramston

The Federation Press, $64.95 hb, 480 pp

From the New Issue

You May Also Like

Leave a comment

If you are an ABR subscriber, you will need to sign in to post a comment.

If you have forgotten your sign in details, or if you receive an error message when trying to submit your comment, please email your comment (and the name of the article to which it relates) to ABR Comments. We will review your comment and, subject to approval, we will post it under your name.

Please note that all comments must be approved by ABR and comply with our Terms & Conditions.