AustLit

'Arguably Australia's most influential political journalist, Alan 'The Red Fox' Reid covered Australian politics from the 1930s to the 1980s. During his career he was both a chronicler of, and player in, Australian politics.

'In this book Ross Fitzgerald and Stephen Holt take us into a Machiavellian behind-the-scenes world of recurrent plots, crises and leadership challenges, and show how it was possible for a skilled journalist to help shape both public perceptions and actual outcomes of political power plays.' (From the publisher's website.)

Holt traces the history of The Bandar-Log, an un-published novel written by Alan Reid in the late 1950s. The novel was initially accepted for publication at Angus & Robertson, but support for the project was later withdrawn. Another attempt at publishing the novel, this time by J. P. Atkins of Cleveland Publishing, also failed. The printer, Halstead Press, a subsidiary of Angus & Robertson, was ordered to halt the print run by its owner-company.

Holt provides an account of the legal case that followed the abandonment of the printing. Atkins sued Halstead for breach of contract, but Judge Perrignon of the Sydney District Court found the novel to be libellous and the claim was dismissed.

In conclusion, Holt notes that 'Scholars and citizens alike' should be grateful that Colin Roderick preserved the page proofs of the novel, along with press clippings compiled during the course of the trial. His assiduousness 'enables a fascinating episode in Australia's political and cultural history to be properly recorded.'