Gordon Samuels Looking Back A University Chancellor Reflects

Biography & Memoir

Gordon Samuels: Looking Back offers a rare, illustrated window into the life of one of Australia’s most respected university chancellors. Roderic Campbell’s concise 160-page biography traces Samuels’ journey from wartime refugee to influential public figure, capturing the culture and educational politics that shaped modern Sydney.

Campbell’s narrative weaves personal anecdotes with broader Australian history, making the book appealing to readers interested in biography, cultural studies, and tertiary education reform. The crisp paperback, published by UNSW Archives in 2005, is clean, tight-spined, and free of markings—ideal for both scholars and collectors seeking a well-preserved copy.

Light scuffing on the illustrated cover and faint spotting along the top page edge are the only signs of gentle previous ownership; pages remain crisp and corners sharp. From a smoke-free home, this edition promises reliable reading and display quality without writing, tears, or dog-ears.