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True believers

On six forgotten Labor figures
by
October 2021, no. 436

Labor People: The stories of six true believers by Chris Bowen

Monash University Publishing, $29.95 pb, 255 pp

True believers

On six forgotten Labor figures
by
October 2021, no. 436

Contemporary Australian parliamentarians tend to be focused firmly on the present. Speechwriters may liberally sprinkle the speeches of politicians with references to a political party’s golden past, but an MP’s sincerest interest in history often emerges when he or she gets around to publishing a memoir of their time in office. A politician’s autobiography is an exercise that encourages selective, rather than frank, reflection on how history will portray them, their enemies and friends. Some politicians, thankfully, embrace a broader, less self-interested view of the importance of history. Labor Opposition frontbencher Chris Bowen is the latest serving politician to display a commendable fascination with historical research. His new book tells the stories of six relatively forgotten figures who made a strong contribution to the Australian Labor Party.

Lyndon Megarrity reviews 'Labor People: The stories of six true believers' by Chris Bowen

Labor People: The stories of six true believers

by Chris Bowen

Monash University Publishing, $29.95 pb, 255 pp

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