Australians have a certain idea of their country during World War II, a belief that during that war Australians – men and women, military and civilians – put aside self-interest and rallied wholeheartedly behind the war effort. A lot of them did, but a lot didn’t, and this book is mainly about those that did not. This is the not-very-uplifting story of a period in Sydney’s history when a lot of its inhabitants were out for a good time; they wanted to get drunk, have sex, make money and stay out of the firing line. And it’s the portrait of the louche, disreputable city that was the setting for this affirmation of life.