{"product_id":"2026600000044-secondhand-henry-parkes-a-biography","title":"Henry Parkes: A Biography","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eCondition remarks:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003eBook: Very good                          \u003cbr\u003eJacket: Very good\u003cbr\u003ePages: Good                  \u003cbr\u003eMarkings: No markings\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eA. W. Martin's authoritative political biography chronicles the remarkable life of Henry Parkes, one of Australia's most consequential statesmen and the principal architect of Australian federation. Born into poverty in England in 1815, Parkes emigrated to New South Wales and rose through sheer force of will and oratorical brilliance to dominate colonial politics for decades, serving multiple terms as Premier of New South Wales. Martin's meticulous scholarship uncovers the contradictions of a man who was simultaneously visionary and vain, a champion of public education and a ruthless political operator, presenting Parkes in full human complexity rather than as a mere monument. Drawing on extensive archival research, Henry Parkes: A Biography situates its subject within the broader sweep of nineteenth-century Australian history, illustrating how one immigrant's ambition helped shape an entire nation. The tone is measured and scholarly yet deeply engaging, making it an essential work for anyone seeking to understand the foundations of modern Australia.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Secondhand Stock","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48810613735643,"sku":"2026600000044-SECONDHAND","price":30.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0523\/7646\/9701\/files\/7fef8b7c-6cb4-4f5c-9e0d-421c32b130a0.png?v=1779805989","url":"https:\/\/bookgrocer.com\/products\/2026600000044-secondhand-henry-parkes-a-biography","provider":"Book Grocer","version":"1.0","type":"link"}