Right on cue, the exact same week that That Awful Man in America goes on trial for Civil Fraud, I read a book about the same thing happening in Australia in the 1980s. The book even quotes him:

Deals are my art form. Other people paint beautifully or write poetry. I like making deals, preferably big deals. That's how I get my kicks. (Twitter, 2014)

Steve Hawke is a playwright, children's author, biographer and novelist from WA. I was impressed by his debut novel The Valley, (see my review) and am now even more so by his third novel The Brothers Wolfe. Set amid what came to be the political scandal known as WA Inc, it's an illuminating exploration of the psychology of financial risk-taking and greed.

WA Inc is usefully summarised at Wikipedia like this:

WA Inc was the name for a set of public-private partnerships in Western Australia in the 1980s associated with the Western Australian Development Corporation, which became a political scandal. The state government, which was led for much of the period by premier Brian Burke, engaged in business dealings with several prominent businessmen, including Alan Bond, Laurie Connell, Dallas Dempster, John Roberts, and Warren Anderson. These dealings resulted in a loss of public money, estimated at a minimum of $600 million and the insolvency of several large corporations.

Hawke's novel contrasts the behaviour and motivations of two brothers. What is it that makes some people into shysters who get a kick out of making more and more money with bigger, riskier and more dubious deals? And how can it be that from the same family comes a person with no initiative, no ambition and no idea of what he wants to do with his life?

The story moves backwards and forwards across time, beginning in 2009 when Elliot's whereabouts are unknown, and his lover Mitzi is musing on the past with Athol. The back story emerges as we learn how Mitzi and Elliot made a prudent departure from France back in 1979, in time for Elliot to take advantage of a dubious inheritance and the political winds of change in WA. Athol is much younger than Elliot, and he defers to his brother not only on business matters that he doesn't understand, but also on family matters. His mother Cynthia is disagreeably partisan towards Elliot, and Athol has learned the hard way that he may as well give in rather than have a fight he will inevitably lose. That appears to include acquiescing to his father's expectation that his sons will one day take over Wolfe's Menswear, and worse, going along with Elliott's plans for the family trust (in which Athol has a share).

Neither of them want to work in retail menswear. Elliot, just back from dealing drugs in Marseille, wants something more exciting, and Athol, just about to start Year 12 next year, is enervated by the mere idea of work.

To read the rest of my review please visit https://anzlitlovers.com/2023/10/04/the-brothers-wolfe-2023-by-steve-hawke/ ( )