"The life of John Curtin is one of Australia's most remarkable stories. He overcame childhood hardships to become the prime minister in turbulent times. Drawing on newly uncovered archival material, Caryn Coatney delves behind the scenes of dramatic events, revealing that Curtin was more complex, determined and shrewd than before imagined. She shines a fresh light on this era by showing how he won the media and the public over to help in meeting the unprecedented challenges that were facing Australia at war."--Back cover.

Includes bibliographical references (pages 155-213) and index.