AustLit

'It is 1963, and everything seems fine for the beginning of the academic year in Sydney’s new university. But the sudden death of Professor Bill Gilbey sets in train a political intrigue with disturbing implications

'For the suddenly elevated Head of Sociology, Richard Hogarth, Gilbey’s now vacant chair has to be filled, but individuals in and outside the campus have other ideas. The medicos see an opportunity to move the chair to Medicine, and Hogarth finds that what seemed straightforward is actually quite complicated. And in time the security service becomes involved as suspicions of communist infiltration arise.

'And behind the public posturings the private problems of the participants emerge to influence and confuse the sequence of events. This novel of campus intrigue was originally published in 1977 by Angus and Robertson, and was compared favourably to the work of C. P Snow in England. You can read some more about the background to the novel here.' (Publication summary)

'The second novel in The Hogarth Trilogy, in which Hogarth becomes a Dean in his university, learns of an extraordinary story from the war that involves his father, is appointed to assist a Select Committee in Canberra, where he meets an attractive woman, and becomes aware of the intrigue and machinations that mark Australia's becoming involved in the war in Vietnam. The competing demands of politics, principle marriage and attraction mark this most readable novel.' (Publication summary)

'In this third novel in the Hogarth Trilogy, the war in Vietnam moves closer to Australia, conscripts are sent to Vietnam, and the community begins to divide. Helen Hogarth, increasingly passionate about the wrongness of Australia's involvement, becomes a protester, which complicates the life of her husband, who is not only an increasingly important playerwithin the University but also the designer of a change in structure to a munitions factory, sure to be the target of protests and strike action.Within the university too there is growing division, and Hogarth becomes involved in the journey of a disgruntled academic staff member, who begins to paint slogans on University property.It begins to be clear that the staff member'sprotest is directed at the Vice-Chancellor. Is itbecause he was refused promotion in the last round, or is it because he is one of the leaders in the anti-Vietnam action demonstration.Helen Hogarth wins a court battle as a solicitor,joins the ALP and is suddenly the endorsed candidate for an unwinnable seat. Hogarth's worries intensify, but he discovers what has been the source of the staff member's unhappiness, and in doing so learns what the Vice-Chancellor did during the war, which illuminates the last days of that conflict.Helen Hogarth's quest for a seat, though this contest is only a first shot, makes Hogarth realise that wis wife has great talents, and he becomes aware that her career is more important than his own. She does not win, but they agree it is a new start.' (Publication summary)