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Power Without Glory

From Alfawiki
Australasian Book Society
Company typeNon-profit organization
IndustryPublishing, literature
Founded1950
FounderFrank Hardy (contributor)
Area served
Australia

Power Without Glory is a 1950 historical novel authored by Australian writer Frank Hardy. The narrative chronicles the ascent of John West, a politician originating from a working-class environment, who achieves significant influence within Australia's federal political landscape.

Following its release, Hardy faced a libel lawsuit initiated by Ellen Wren, spouse of bookmaker and entrepreneur John Wren. She claimed that the characters John West and his wife Nellie were modeled after the Wrens, and that Nellie's extramarital relationship defamed her. Ultimately, Hardy was acquitted, permitting the book to remain in circulation.

Publication

The novel was initially self-published, featuring illustrations by Hardy's acquaintance "Amb" Dyson. It carried the subtitle "a novel in three parts by Frank J. Hardy, Ross Franklyn," with "Ross Franklyn" being a pseudonym Hardy employed previously. This alias also appeared alongside his real name in his 1961 work The Hard Way, which recounts the difficulties encountered during the novel's publication and Hardy’s legal defense against libel accusations.

As a member of the Communist Party of Australia, Hardy depicted the party as the antagonist within the story. He later sought political office as a Communist Party candidate but did not succeed.

In The Hard Way, Hardy conveyed his dissatisfaction with the concluding sections of Power Without Glory, attributing their hurried nature to limitations on length and pressures related to publication deadlines.

The novel’s success played a role in establishing the Australasian Book Society, an organization Hardy significantly contributed to founding.

Novel

Power Without Glory centers on John West, who is born into destitution in Carringbush, a fictional suburb of Melbourne inspired by Abbotsford and Collingwood. Beginning in 1893, West evolves from involvement in illicit activities such as gambling and bookmaking into a driven businessman and corrupt politician, serving as an influential figure within the Australian Labor Party.

Set partially during World War I, the story highlights the divisive conscription debate. West is depicted as a fervent patriot advocating for conscription, opposing Melbourne's Irish-Catholic Archbishop who resists it due to historical conflicts between Ireland and England.

West’s domestic life is fraught with turmoil: his brother Arthur is imprisoned for assisting in a rape; his wife Nellie engages in an affair resulting in a child fathered by another man; and his daughter joins the Communist Party of Australia after the war. West strongly opposes Communism, financially supporting anti-communist Roman Catholic figure B. A. Santamaria—a campaign that places significant strain on both his family’s wealth and his marriage until his death in 1950.

Characters

The novel operates as a Roman à clef, with numerous characters representing real-life individuals such as Victorian Premier Sir Thomas Bent and Prime Minister James Scullin. While Hardy acknowledged some parallels, others remain matters of conjecture.

Notable character correspondences include:

  • ASHTON, Frank – Frank Anstey, Labor politician and social propagandist
  • BACON, Snowy – Reginald Leslie (Snowy) Baker, sportsman and promoter
  • BENNETT (The Gentleman Thief) – Hon. W.J. Beckett, Victorian M.L.C.
  • BLACKWELL, Maurice – Maurice Blackburn, Labor MP at State and Federal levels
  • BLAIRE – Sir Thomas Blamey, army general and Police Commissioner
  • BOND, Thomas – Sir Thomas Bent, 32nd Premier of Victoria
  • BRADLEY, Richard – Richard Buckley, infamous gunman
  • BRADY, William – Bill Barry, Victorian Labor MP and minister
  • CALLINAN, Police Commissioner – Thomas O'Callaghan
  • Cameron – Campbell, cycling promoter
  • CARR, John – John Cain, Victorian Labor leader and Premier
  • CONN (Archbishop) – Thomas Carr, Catholic Archbishop of Melbourne
  • CREGAN, J. – Jack Cremean, Federal MP for Hoddle
  • CUTTING, Slasher – John "Snowy" Cutmore, criminal figure
  • DARBY, Lou – Les Darcy
  • DAVISON, Alfie – Sir Albert Dunstan, conservative Premier of Victoria
  • DAVLIN, Dr – Sir Hugh Devine
  • DWYER, Godfrey – Sir Gilbert Dyett, R.S.L. President
  • GARSIDE, David – David Gaunson, criminal barrister
  • GIBBON, Sir S. – Sir Samuel Gillott, Chief Secretary under Bent Cabinet
  • HORAN, Ned – Edmond Hogan, twice Premier of Victoria (Labor)
  • JOGGINS, Rev – Reverend G. Judkins, anti-vice campaigner
  • JOLLY, Bob – Robert Solly, long-serving Labor MP for Carlton
  • KELLEHER, Paddy – Pat J. Kennelly, M.L.C. and Federal ALP Secretary
  • KIELY, Michael – Standish Michael Keon, Victorian and Federal MP
  • LAMB, Richard – Dick Lean, stadium manager
  • LAMBERT, Percy – Percy Laidler, theatrical supplier and socialist activist
  • LAMMENCE, Frank – Frank Laurence
  • LANE – Jack Lang, NSW Labor leader and Premier
  • LASSITER Family – Loughnan family
  • LEVY Ben – Ben Nathan founder of Maples Store
  • McCORKELL – William McCormack Queensland Labor Premier
  • MALONE, Daniel – Dr. Daniel Mannix Catholic Archbishop of Melbourne
  • MANSON,"Plugger" Pete– Bill Martin cyclist
  • MORTON,Fim– Jim Morley Communist organizer/journalist
  • MURKETT,Kenneth– Sir Keith Murdoch journalist/owner
  • O'FLAHERTY,Dave– Detective O'Donnell Gaming Squad
  • PARELLI– Pellegrini
  • PARKER Clive– Clyde Palmer The Truth newspaper
  • PIGGY– Piggy Ryan alias Williamson criminal enforcer
  • REAL,T.J.– T.J. Ryan Queensland Premier
  • REDMOND,Ron– Ron Richards Aboriginal boxer
  • RENFREY,Sugar– Robert "Sugar" Roberts Mayor Collingwood
  • ROBINSON Barneys– Barney Reynolds
  • SANDOW– Ad Santel wrestler champion
  • SCATT,Bob– Bob Solly
  • SOLOMON ,Sol– Sol Green bookmaker
  • SQUEERS,Bill– Bill Squires boxer
  • SUMMER ,James– James H.Scullin Prime Minister 1929-32
  • SWINTON– Sir George Swinburne engineer/politician/philanthropist
  • TANNER,Snoopy– Squizzy Taylor gunman/thief
  • THURGOOD– E.G.Theodore Queensland Premier Treasurer mining magnate
  • TINN,Ted– Ted Thye wrestler
  • TRUMBLEWOOD ,Thomas– Tom Tunnecliffe Labor Speaker 1937-40
  • WATTY ,Jim– Jack Welsh Milk Distribution Secretary
  • WEST family– John Wren family
  • WILLIAMS Detective– Harry Herbert Wilson
  • WODMAN ,Paddy– Paddy Boardman

Locations

Court case

In 1951, Hardy faced trial for criminal libel due to the novel’s portrayal of West’s wife engaging in an extramarital affair; however, after a vigorous defense and thorough cross-examination of witnesses, the jury found him not guilty. This marked the final criminal libel case brought forward in Victoria. The timing of the trial coincided with the anti-Communist referendum, which heightened public attention on the novel and its critical depiction of Wren.

While Hardy conceded to publishing the book, his defense centered on whether Nellie West was an accurate representation of Ellen Wren and if the depiction was indeed defamatory. Although some witnesses asserted they recognized Ellen and felt defamed, Hardy maintained that John West was a composite figure, not exclusively modeled on John Wren, thereby suggesting Ellen’s portrayal was not a direct likeness. The verdict in Hardy’s favor permitted broader dissemination of the novel.

Debate persists among historians regarding the novel’s assertion that Ellen Wren engaged in an affair and bore an illegitimate child. Hardy denied any contact with the Wren family during his research and insisted that the affair was fabricated. Nevertheless, in 2005, Monash University scholar Jenny Hocking uncovered archival documents indicating that Ellen did have an affair, suggesting Hardy might have been aware of this fact.

TV series adaptation

The novel was transformed into a 26-episode television series by ABC in 1976, featuring Martin Vaughan as West. The adaptation included Nellie’s affair but omitted any mention of a child resulting from it. This production received numerous accolades including Logie, Penguin, and Sammy Awards, significantly amplifying the story’s cultural resonance.

Cast

Other books

Hardy produced several works reflecting on his experience with Power Without Glory, including The Hard Way: The Story Behind Power without Glory (1961), Who Shot George Kirkland?: A Novel About the Nature of Truth (1981), and But the Dead are Many: A Novel in Fugue Form (1975). These writings delve into themes concerning the interplay between truth and fiction.

References


External links

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