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The Federal Story is Alfred Deakin's deeply personal and authoritative account of the movement that led to the Federation of Australia, offering an insider's view of the political, diplomatic, and ideological struggles that shaped the Commonwealth. Written during the closing stages of the federation campaign between the 1880s and 1900, Deakin's narrative traces the evolution of the federal cause through colonial conferences, constitutional conventions, public campaigns, and negotiations with Britain, illuminating the roles of key figures, shifting alliances, and regional antagonisms. More than a chronological history, the work provides candid character sketches and behind-the-scenes reflections on personalities such as Reid, Chamberlain, Balfour, and other colonial and imperial actors, revealing the human tensions and strategic calculations that underpinned Australia's constitutional birth.
Published posthumously in 1944 and edited by Herbert Brookes, this first edition preserves Deakin's manuscript largely as he left it, lending the book an immediacy and authenticity unmatched by later historical syntheses. Framed by a foreword from W. A. Watt, the volume stands as both a foundational political document and a reflective memoir by Australia's second Prime Minister, whose intellectual restraint and deliberate suppression of his own role underscore the work's integrity. This book will particularly appeal to collectors of Australian political history, scholars of Federation-era governance, and readers interested in first-hand accounts of nation-building at the highest level.
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General wear and fading to covers and spine as shown. Inscriptions present as shown. Several underlines from study use. Pages otherwise clean and well presented. A nice copy in good condition overall. Please study photos to further understand condition.
