FEDERATION’S MAN OF LETTERS
PATRICK McMAHON GLYNN
Anne Henderson
178 pages, Paperback
ISBN 978-1-925-826-487
Release Date: June 2019
Retail Price: $29.95
THE KAPUNDA PRESS
Series editor: Damien Freeman -- Fellow of the PM Glynn Institute, Australian Catholic University
The Kapunda Press is an imprint of Connor Court Publishing in association with the PM Glynn Institute.
Praise for Federation's Man of Letters
Patrick McMahon Glynn was not the typical nineteenth century Irish
immigrant. Erudite and principled, this committed Catholic’s
contribution to Australian society as a lawyer and parliamentarian has
long deserved to be better known. Anne Henderson’s compelling and
scholarly Federation’s Man of Letters ably fills this gap.
-- MARGARET BEAZLEY AO QC
This insightful portrait of one of the founders of our Federation
shows him in his political, social, and religious context. An immigrant
Irish lawyer, who settled in South Australia, P. M. Glynn took up issues
(such as Murray River water rights) which have never lost their
relevance. Eulogised by Prime Minister Scullin as “a great scholar and a
cultured and eloquent speaker”, he is a worthy subject for Anne
Henderson’s impressive and informative essay.
-- MURRAY GLEESON AC QC
This biographical study is both delight and revelation. Here was a
Federation-era politician on the right side of so many issues, bold
enough to advocate humane treatment of the Chinese in the Australian
colonies and to urge free-trade rather than protection. As early as 1898
he saw the day when “the centre of the world struggle is being shifted
west to east” and England may not be able to protect Australia. He was
the one Catholic in the leadership of the non-Labor Parties; by any test
as thoughtful and learned a politician as we ever had.
-- BOB CARR
Chapters
Foreword -- Gerald O’Collins
Introduction -- Damien Freeman
The Gerald Glynn O’Collins Oration: Federation’s man of letters -- Anne Henderson
Responding to Anne Henderson
1. The biographer’s tracks -- Patrick Mullins
2. Lawyer, Catholic and liberal conservative -- Anne Twomey
3. Personality and prejudice: Glynn and Isaacs compared -- Suzanne D. Rutland
4. Anglican elites -- Peter Boyce
5. Now and then -- John Fahey