John Wren: A Life Reconsidered

In this superbly written and provocative review of the historical evidence, James Griffin argues that John Wren - the man made infamous by Frank Hardy in the classic 'Power Without Glory' - has been unfairly maligned and misunderstood for decades.

Wren was a wealthy, self-made entrepreneur with interests and influence in football, horse racing and the Labor Party. But it is Hardy's barely fictionalised denunciation of Wren as an uncouth gangster, racketeer, murderer, abusive husband, and nobbler of horses and politicians that we know better. This image of Wren, embellished by television portrayals and reinforced by later historians has remained entrenched in Australia's historical psyche.

Now, in this monumental work, Griffin demonstrates that Frank Hardy's research was fraudulent, and fuelled by political objectives and personal ambition. While John Wren was no saint, he was fair in his business dealings, a committed, if conservative social democrat, puritanical in his personal habits and relationships, and a genuine philanthropist. He did not seek polite society, Wren's allegiance was to his class and his family, and to them he was a quiet and generous benefactor. Griffin finds that John Wren was an early but continuing victim of Australia's culture wars.

In sorting rumour from fact, and perception from prejudice, James Griffin has produced an important Australian biography, and a vivid social history of the highest order.