King O'Malley- legends and mystery surrounds his name and are unravelled in this account of his life. Was he born in Canada or America, and did he pioneer the Waterlily Rockbound Church in frontier America, then live in a cave in Queensland for two years, being nursed back to health by an Aboriginal?

He was a born raconteur whose political career was super insurance salesman, land dealer, and gold speculator whose Irish charm and 'spread eagle ' rhetoric carried him first into State politics and then into the Federal parliament where He became Minister for Home Affairs, was instrumental in founding the Commonwealth Bank, overseeing the completion of the transcontinental railway, and establishing Canberra as the federal capital. Aided by his style, he continued to be characterised by wild proposals, strong reformist policies and fervent business know-how.

A fanatically Australian foreigner, a socialist with capitalist personal values, he outlived his political colleagues, enemies, and critics of the press to become Australia's most colourful politician.