This biography investigates the life and influence of John Macarthur, a pivotal and controversial figure in the early development of the Australian colony. The author, M. H. Ellis, utilizes extensive archival research and primary source documentation to reconstruct the political and economic maneuvers of a man often credited with establishing the Australian wool industry. The text examines Macarthur's complex relationships with colonial governors and his role in the Rum Rebellion, presenting a detailed portrait of his ambition and impact on the nascent nation.

This work is regarded as a comprehensive and authoritative account of one of Australia's most polarizing historical figures. The text provides a dense, scholarly examination of colonial power dynamics that remains a standard reference for historians of the period.