Draws on previously inaccessible family archives to penetrate the anonymity and public reticence of one of Britain's great twentieth century civil servants. Gowers was highly influential in public policy throughout his long civil service career, which began in 1903 and culminated in running London's civil defence throughout the Second World War.

ANN SCOTT is Adjunct Professor in Criminology at the University of Queensland, Australia and also lectures in public policy. She has degrees in education and government and was a civil servant in Queensland for 20 years, 10 as a senior executive in the Queensland Police Service. She holds the Australian Public Service Medal.