Power Without Glory

"Power without glory" is generally considered to be one of the great Australian novels, and you would get no argument from me on that. Upon release, it also proved to be one of the most controversial Australian novels as “Power without glory” is apparently closely based on the life of John Wren (named John West here) from working class poor in suburban Melbourne to his rise to become one of Victoria’s richest and most powerful men through a series of controversial and illegal actions.

While the writing seems to be less than poetic at times, Hardy captures the essence of Australian culture in the first half of the Australian century in a way that few, if any, novels have before or since. And that's why it's considered a great show more Australian novel. show less

This roman à clef is a precious artefact of Australian politics, and I greatly enjoyed the experience of simultaneously reading, and looking up the lives of the real characters.

However it’s more like a journalistic recount than a novel, full of flat charmless characters living mean and ultimately fruitless lives.

A very thinly disguised history of the corrupt and corrupting John Wren who made his money running illegal betting shops in Melbourne. The aging and rich Wren unsuccessfully sued Hardy for libel. The real John Wren is portrayed as John West, the horse Murmur as Whisper, the suburb Collingwood as Collingbush etc. A great piece of Australian history.

Written in the 1950s about the early days of federation and up to post WW2. An interesting story woven around the politics and corruption of that during those times. Amazing how branch stacking, buying votes and making money has continued to be relevant in 21st century.

Power Without Glory is written in three parts:
Part One (1890 - 1907): The Road to Power. As John "Jack" West climbs the power ladder he learns the art of bribing the police to turn a blind eye to his illegal activities of running a gambling tote; hidden behind the front of a tea shop where no one ever bought any tea. When the shop become too hot, Jack moved his operation to a wood and coal storage yard that was surrounded by high wooden fences, barbed wire, and houses that Jack ingeniously bought for his employees. Piggy, Cauliflower Dick, One Eyed Tommy and the Ape could keep watch over the entire complex. Soon, bribery is not enough to keep Jack's activities under wraps. He resorts to the threat of violence to keep his underlings and show more the authorities in line. As his "influence grows and grows it isn't long before the idea of murder enters Jack's mind.
Part Two (1915 - 1931): Abuse of Power. West now lives in a fancy mansion with his wife and four children. He not only controls the police but government officials as well. But it is not enough for West. He joins the Australian Imperial Forces as a soldier to gain more followers. As his power grows stronger so does his bafflement when people cannot be bought or intimidated. One such person he cannot control is his wife, much to his increasing resentment. The trouble with achieving anything is that success will have you asking what is next? Where do I go from here? When you reach the very top of success, where do you go from there?
Part Three (1935 - 1935): The Decline of Power. Everyone starts to defy John West, the once all-powerful tyrant. It begins at home with his wife and three children turning their backs on him. The betrayals are explained away as his wife betrayed him with another man and his children are willful and spoiled. As every slight grows stronger West loses his grip on power. His feared rein becomes diminished and impotent. show less

Out of fashion now, as a 'politically correct polemicist', Hardy wrote a sweeping novel froma leftist point of view, about how power corrupts, working clas politics and the Catholic church in early 20th century Melbourne.

Recommended.

Reviewed in the March 1954 issue of the Socialist Standard:

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