The Menzies Era

An assessment of Australia's longest-serving Prime Minister by Australia's second-longest serving Prime Minister - a significant, unique and fascinating history of the Menzies era.

Fresh from the success of his phenomenal bestselling memoir, Lazarus Rising, which has sold over 100,000 copies, John Howard now turns his attention to one of the most extraordinary periods in Australian history, the Menzies era, canvassing the longest unbroken period of government for one side of politics in Australia's history.

John Howard was the second-longest serving Prime Minister in Australia's history. The monumental Sir Robert Menzies held power for a total of 18 years, five months and 12 days, making him by far the longest-serving Australian Prime Minister. His second term of 16 years is far and away the longest unbroken tenure in that office, and during his second term he dominated Australian politics like no one else has ever done before or since.

Through this era, there was huge economic growth, social change and considerable political turmoil. Covering the impact of the great Labor split of 1955 as well as the recovery of the Labor Party under Whitlam's leadership in the late 1960s and the impact of the Vietnam War on Australian politics, this magisterial book will offer a comprehensive assessment of the importance of the Menzies era in Australian life, history and politics. John Howard, only ten when Menzies rose to power, and in young adulthood when the Menzies era came to an end, saw Menzies as an inspiration and a role model. His unique insights and thoughtful analysis into Menzies the man, the politician, and his legacy make this a fascinating, highly significant book.

About the Author

John Howard was the 25th Prime Minister of Australia, serving from March 1996 to December 2007. Despite an early meteoric rise to become Australia's Treasurer at 38, the self-described economic radical and social conservative found himself sidelined by his own party. After many years in the political wilderness, Howard bounced back, led the Coalition to a resounding victory, then got to work on his reform agenda. The Howard Government privatized the previously government-owned telecommunications carrier Telstra, dismantled excessive union power and compulsory trade union membership, instituted the unpopular Goods and Services Tax, trimmed the Public Service and reduced government expenditure, and established the 'work for the dole' scheme.