Donald Horne: A Life in the Lucky Country

The fascinating biography of a brilliant man who captured the nation's imagination and boldly showed Australians who we were and how we could change.

In the 1960s, Donald Horne offered Australians a compelling reinterpretation of the Menzies years as a period of social and political inertia and mediocrity. His book The Lucky Country was profoundly influential and, without doubt, one of the most significant shots ever fired in Australia's endless culture war.

Ryan Cropp's landmark biography positions Horne as an antipodean Orwell, a lively, independent and distinct literary voice 'searching for the temper of the people, accepting it, and moving on from there'. Through the eyes – and unforgettable words – of this preternaturally observant and articulate man, we see a recognisable modern Australia emerge.

About the Author

Ryan Cropp is a writer and historian based in Canberra. His writing has appeared in Australian Book Review, Overland and Inside Story. He has studied and taught in the Department of History at the University of Sydney.