Cirrus@Austlit

'Geoffrey Blainey and his lawyers have shown a close interest in this book. Author Richard Allsop has little to say about the bumpy journey to publication, recording cryptically that Blainey gave early encouragement and assistance to the project – originally a Monash University doctoral thesis – and then that he withdrew support. But although Allsop does not mention this himself, it is on the public record that an earlier plan to publish had to be abandoned after a threat of legal action from Blainey's lawyer (The Australian, 29–30 October 2016).' (Introduction)