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A remarkable life of a New Zealand champion for justice. Shirley Smith was a prominent 20th-century New Zealander, passionately dedicated to social justice, legal reform, gender equality, and community service. This biography explores her profound legacy and extraordinary life. Born in Wellington in 1916, Smith studied classics at Oxford, immersing herself in social, cultural, and political spheres. Qualifying as a lawyer at 40, she shattered barriers throughout her 40-year career, advocating for the marginalized, notably through her work with the Mongrel Mob. The 1974 espionage charges against her husband, Bill Sutch, led to a sensational trial and acquittal, yet questions of his guilt lingered, impacting Smith's later years.
Shirley Smith: An Examined Life reveals a warm, generous woman with unwavering principles and formidable energy. Shaped by the 20th century's turbulent currents, she helped transform her country for the better. Perfect for readers interested in New Zealand history, biography, and the fight for social justice.
About the author
Sarah Gaitanos is the author of The Violinist: Clare Galambos Winter, Holocaust Survivor; Nola Millar: A Theatrical Life; and with Alan Bollard, Governor of the Reserve Bank of New Zealand, the bestseller Crisis: One Central Bank Governor and the Global Financial Collapse. Sarah is an independent writer, researcher, and oral historian.
Summary
Shirley Smith was one of the most remarkable New Zealanders of the 20th century, a woman whose lifelong commitment to social justice, legal reform, gender equality and community service left a profound legacy.
