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. ( )

Reviewed in the March 1954 issue of the Socialist Standard:

http://socialiststandardmyspace.blogspot.com/2017/12/about-books-1954_26.html

"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 Australian novel. ( )

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. ( )