Andrew Tink's superb book tells the story of Australia in the 20th century, from Federation to the Sydney 2000 Olympics. It was a century marked by the trauma of war and the despair of the depression, balanced by extraordinary achievements in sport, science, and the arts. Tink's story is driven by people, whether they be prime ministers, soldiers, shopkeepers, singers, footballers, or farmers; men or women, Australian-born, immigrant, or Aborigine. He brings the decades to life, writing with empathy, humor, and insight to create a narrative that is as entertaining as it is illuminating.