Billy Hughes - the longest serving parliamentarian every besides Winston Churchill, and probably the man who served in leadership positions in political parties across the spectrum, starting as a founder of waterside worker unions, a Labor Party prime minister, through to the Liberal Party. Expelled from almost of these organisations because of his stubborn unwillingness to forego his principles. A leading figure in the First World War - on the world stage, at times barely tolerated by US President Wilson, but always effective in pushing Australian interests.
This book is no great tome - it does not try to cover every aspect of his life. Yet, it digs into his character, his relationship with his children, his way with money, his Welsh heritage, his relationships with other world leaders, his health. For those who have read more about Hughes, this may fill in some gaps.
If this is the first you read of him, as is the case for me, it may drive an interest to read one of the many books written about him. ( )