{"product_id":"sir-henry-parkes-the-australian-colossus-by-stephen-dando-collins-9781742757988","title":"Sir Henry Parkes: The Australian Colossus","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eSir Henry Parkes: The Australian Colossus\u003c\/em\u003e by Stephen Dando-Collins explores the life and legacy of Sir Henry Parkes—Father of Federation, Premier of NSW, Statesman, Visionary, Political Leader, Poet, and Humanist.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eMay 27, 2015, marked the 200th anniversary of the birth of Sir Henry Parkes. Upon his death, the \u003cem\u003eLondon Times\u003c\/em\u003e described him as \"a colonial colossus.\" Despite receiving little formal schooling, Parkes worked various jobs, including on a rope-walk, breaking stones, and as an ivory and bone turner, ironmonger, labourer, and wharf worker before venturing into business and ultimately politics.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eHe and his first wife travelled to Australia on an assisted passage. Parkes was a self-taught man, reading voraciously and widely, including all the great poets. There has never been anyone else like Sir Henry Parkes in Australian public life. Not only was he the Father of Federation, but his circle of friends included Thomas Carlyle, fellow poet Lord Tennyson, and British Prime Minister Gladstone.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eParkes convinced Florence Nightingale to send trained nurses to Australia. He conceived the international rabbit competition, which led to the Pasteur affair and positioned Australia at the forefront of microbiology. He encouraged talented men to enter politics. Yet, he shunned the limelight, rarely attending social functions.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Penguin Random House NZ","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47995512488172,"sku":"9781742757988","price":27.99,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/9781742757988-sir-henry-parkes-the-australian-colossus.jpg?v=1784897651","url":"https:\/\/bookhero.co.nz\/products\/sir-henry-parkes-the-australian-colossus-by-stephen-dando-collins-9781742757988","provider":"Book Hero","version":"1.0","type":"link"}