Young Rupert:
the making of the Murdoch empire
For half a century, the Murdoch media empire and its polarising patriarch have swept across the globe, shaking up markets and democracies in their wake. But how did it all start?
In September 1953, 22-year-old Rupert Murdoch landed in Adelaide, South Australia. Fresh from Oxford with a radical reputation, the young and brash son of Sir Keith Murdoch had arrived to fulfill his father’s dying wish: for Rupert to live a ‘useful altruistic and full life’ in the media.
Drawing on unpublished archival material and new reportage, Young Rupert pieces together a paper trail of succession, sedition, and power — and a fascinating time capsule of Australian media on the cusp of an extraordinary ascension.
Available now in Australia, the United Kingdom and United States via Scribe Publications
Photo: Rohan Rivett and Rupert Murdoch at Adelaide Airport, circa 1955 (Courtesy Rivett family)
‘Marsh’s deep study is bedded in detailed and meticulous research rendered unfailingly lively and enthralling in the telling.’
— Jonathan Green, Australian Book Review
‘Marsh has a deft touch, with a knack for explaining the historical context, bringing postwar Adelaide to life without losing the narrative thread, all the while drawing out the contemporary relevance of the events he describes.’
— Paddy Manning, Crikey
‘A fascinating account of the early days of one of the most notoriously influential men Australia has produced. Marsh skilfully brings forgotten episodes of this country’s history to life, and reminds us just how important, cut-throat, and thrilling the news business can be.’
— Sean Kelly, author of The Game
‘Marsh has a novelist’s gift for recreating a scene, and the book is meticulously researched and elegantly written. Well worth your time even if you’ve read a lot about Murdoch – or if you feel you couldn’t stand to read one more word about him.’
— Sian Cain, The Guardian Australia
‘Marsh understands the worth of careful description: simply tell the truth about them and the worst condemn themselves.’
— Damon Young, The Saturday Paper
‘Ruthless, ambitious, a purveyor of intrigue and scandal for whom loyalty is just a pit stop on the way to a business deal, this is the young Rupert as you’ve never seen him before. A riveting, rollicking tale.’
— Jenny Hocking, author of The Palace Letters
‘From schoolboy socialist to boy publisher to mogul on the make: Young Rupert offers a revelatory glimpse of Murdoch becoming Murdoch.’
— Jeff Sparrow, author of Crimes Against Nature
‘Deeply researched and sharply written, Marsh summons a vanished era to life and chronicles the intricate manoeuvres and shifting character of a man whose whims and grudges have dominated, for better and worse, the media landscape for seventy years. This is an engrossing and insightful study of raw power, shameless politics, and the powers of the press.’
— Patrick Mullins, author of Tiberius with a Telephone
‘This is a distinguished work – essential for anyone who wants a greater understanding of Murdoch, his empire, and the contemporary history of South Australia.’
— David Washington, InReview
Walter Marsh 