#AWW 2018 The Enigmatic Mr. Deakin

• Author: Judith Brett
• Title: The Enigmatic Mr. Deakin
• Published: 2018
• Trivia: Winner National Biography Award 2018
• List of Challenges 2018
• Monthly plan
• #AWW2018     @AusWomenWriters

Conclusion:

1. This is a  book about the history, politics and philosophy
2. of Australian liberals.
3. It is Australian politics leading up to Deakin Government
4. and his years as Prime Minister 1903-1908.
5. As a brilliant speaker Deakin became one of the kind of people
6. who are very good at playing the political game.
7. Judtih Brett has done almost the impossible
8. …make a shy, studious, religious man seem interesting.
9. Remember this is not a literary biography but a political biography.
10. It’s going to be full of elections, and policy making.
11. So if you are not really interested in this topic
12. ….the book will be a tough read.

Last thoughts:

1. It is not easy to write a political biography
2. It is not easy to condense an entire life into the form of a book
3. …an interesting book.
4. You have to find the right balance between
5. historical fact and emotion to give the subject a pulse.
6. I felt only a regular missed heartbeat.
7. The author did not punch me with enough
8. little details that make the character relatable.
9. It is difficult to read the book you are writing
10. as if you were the reader…instead of a writer.
11. Perhaps that may have improved this book.