Les Murray's multi-faceted talents have received high praise both in his native Australia and beyond. But he has also proved a controversial figure, whose poetry strays across the boundaries of political and cultural debate. His version of republicanism has caused heated argument about the future direction of his country, as it moves out of the shadow of its colonial past. In this critical study of Murray's work Steven Matthews provides a complete picture of his career to date, from its early parables of national emergence to the working man's epic encounter with the major events of the 20th century, "Fredy Neptune". Matthews provides detailed readings of key poems, as well as literary and cultural contexts for the rapid shifts in style and subject matter Murray has made from collection to collection. He also gives an overview of Murray's place within Australian literature and national thought. Written in a way that engages academics working in the field and students or general readers new to Murray's poetry, this study offers a striking take on a significant figure in world literature today.