Melbourne: Realist Printing and Publishing Co. 4th printing, Aug. 1951. Octavo, illustrated paper covers. Yapp edges of covers have creases, small tears; text paper toned; almost half the front free endpaper clipped out; VG otherwise. With 14 illustrations by Ambrose Dyson (woodcuts). One of Geoffrey Dutton's choices of for his list of the greatest Australian books, a novel based on the career of Melbourne millionaire John Wren. Hardy was charged with criminal libel but was acquited in June 1951. A sensation in Australia, this, Hardy's first novel, was published and distributed by himself and friends.