Book excerpt: This is Volume One of an authoritative two-volume work containing biographies of the 13 Colonial Premiers to 1901 and the 26 State Premiers in the 20th century, up to and including Bob Carr. The portraits are detailed, scholarly and entertaining. Each has a real depth of scholarship while remaining sufficiently concise to satisfy those seeking a quick overview of particular periods or facets of NSW political history.Volume One's authors includes acknowledged experts on 19th century Australia such as John Bennett, Geoffrey Bolton, Alan Powell and Martha Rutledge. Volume One and Volume Two are available as individual purchases or as part of the Set. A NSW Sesquicentenary of Responsible Government publication.