This work investigates the comprehensive transformation of Australian society, economy, and political landscape during the Second World War. Michael McKernan, a respected historian of the Australian home front, utilizes primary source documents, government records, and personal accounts to construct a detailed analysis of how the nation mobilized for total war. The text argues that the conflict acted as a catalyst for profound structural changes in Australian life, shifting the country from a colonial mindset toward a more independent, Pacific-oriented identity.

Historians and scholars frequently cite this work as a foundational text for understanding the civilian experience in Australia between 1939 and 1945. Readers often note the accessible yet rigorous nature of the prose, which balances academic depth with a clear narrative structure.