Curtin's Empire

John Curtin remains a venerated leader. His role as Labor's wartime supremo is etched deep into the national psyche: the man who put Australia first, locked horns with Churchill, forged the alliance with the United States and became the saviour of the nation in its darkest hour. Drawing on new archival material including sensitive and private correspondence from Curtin never before seen or quoted, Curtin's Empire shows that this British world vision was not imposed on him from abroad, rather it animated Curtin from deep within. Since entering politics Curtin had fought a bitter battle with his opponents - both inside and outside his party - over loyalty, identity and national security. At stake was how he and his party related to the defining idea of Australian politics for their times: Britishness.

• Draws on new archival material from London, Washington and Canberra, and includes sensitive and private correspondence from Curtin not before seen or quoted
• Challenges one of the most powerful myths in Australian history - that Curtin was a 'nationalist' leader who turned from Britain and forged the alliance with the United States
• Shows that Curtin's vision for closer cooperation with Britain and the Empire was no idle or frivolous embrace