A Sort of Conscience

A Sort Of Conscience Is A Remarkably Engaging Study Of The Wakefield Family And The Early Settlement Of British Colonial Societies. It Draws On A Rich Store Of Sources To Paint A Portrait Of A Complex Family Whose Influence Crossed The Globe. At Once Notorious And Visionary, Edward Gibbon Wakefield And His Brothers Played A Key But Controversial Role In The Early British Settlement Of New Zealand, Australia And Canada. Once Famed As New Zealand's 'founding Fathers', They Have Since Become The Arch-villains Of All Post-colonial Scenarios Of The Past. Deciding That Neither Myth Made Good Historical Sense, Philip Temple Decided To Produce A Biography. In Stitching Together A Net Of Letters And Documents, Temple Has Produced The Most Comprehensive Account Of The Family's Role In The Development Of The Commonwealth. This Engaging Narrative, Written In A Strong And Evocative Literary Style, Relates A Story Of Courage And Vision; Cupidity And Stupidity; High Risk And Adventure; Success Against The Odds And, Ultimately, Terrible Tragedy. A Gripping Family Story, A Sort Of Conscience Provides An Accessible History Of British Colonial Settlement In Canada, Australia And New Zealand. The Work Comes Complete With Scholarly Apparatus, Including An Introduction, Extended Notes And A Bibliography.