'Emeritus Professor Maurice French has made a major contribution to our historical understanding of the Darling Downs and its unofficial capital, Toowoomba. Through reading French’s work, the keen student of Queensland politics realises the extent to which Toowoomba has produced more than its share of influential politicians, including such figures as W.H. Groom, Littleton Groom, Gordon Chalk and the subject of the author’s latest book, Queensland parliamentarian Jack Duggan (1910–93).' (Introduction)