The Death of Holden

An extraordinary account of the impending closure of the Holden factory in Adelaide. More than the end of a business - it's the end of an era, of a story, and of a great Australian dream.

When Holden signalled that it would close its Adelaide factory, it struck at the very heart of Australian identity. Holden is our car made on our shores. It's the choice of patriotic rev heads and suburban drivers alike. How could a car that was so beloved - and so popular - be so unprofitable to make?

The story of the collapse of Holden is about the people who make and drive the cars; it's about sustaining industry in Australia; it's about communities of workers and what happens when the work dries up. And if it's not quite about the death of an icon - because Holdens will remain on Australian roads for a long time to come - then it's about what happens when an icon falls to its knees in front of a whole nation.

This updated edition features a new chapter.

'Brilliant and powerful' Nick Xenophon

“a case study of modern economics in action - SATURDAY AGEfocuses on the human cost of plant closures - WEEKEND AUSTRALIANBrilliant and powerfulReports the important stories of those most affected by the death of car manufacturing - ADELAIDE REVIEW”

a case study of modern economics in action - SATURDAY AGE

focuses on the human cost of plant closures - WEEKEND AUSTRALIAN

Brilliant and powerful - Nick Xenophon

Reports the important stories of those most affected by the death of car manufacturing - ADELAIDE REVIEW

a meticulously researched piece of contemporary anthropology - CITYMAG ADELAIDE

a persuasive account of SA industry and society over half a century - SUNDAY TERRITORIAN

a compassionate insight - CITY MESSENGER

Royce Kurmelovs is a journalist and writer whose work has been published by the ABC, CNN, BBC, Al Jazeera English, VICE, The Guardian and other publications. Royce's bestselling first book, The Death of Holden, was published in 2016 and his critically acclaimed second book, Rogue Nation, was published in 2017. Boom and Bust is his third book.

An extraordinary account of the impending closure of the Holden factory in Adelaide. More than the end of a business - it's the end of an era, of a story, and of a great Australian dream. When Holden signalled that it would close its Adelaide factory, it struck at the very heart of Australian identity. Holden is our car made on our shores. It's the choice of patriotic rev heads and suburban drivers alike. How could a car that was so beloved - and so popular - be so unprofitable to make?The story of the collapse of Holden is about the people who make and drive the cars; it's about sustaining industry in Australia; it's about communities of workers and what happens when the work dries up. And if it's not quite about the death of an icon - because Holdens will remain on Australian roads for a long time to come - then it's about what happens when an icon falls to its knees in front of a whole nation.This updated edition features a new chapter. 'Brilliant and powerful' Nick Xenophon

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