Michael Pembroke

Michael Pembroke grew up in England, Australia, and Singapore and was educated at the Universities of Sydney and Cambridge. His books include Arthur Phillip: Sailor, Mercenary, Governor, Spy (2013), a historical biography that was short-listed for the Prime Minister’s Literary Awards; Korea: Where the American Century Began (2018), a military and political critique that was short-listed for the Queensland Literary Awards and the NSW Premier’s History Awards; Play By the Rules (2020), a polemic about American leadership that was published in the United States as America in Retreat (2021) and Trees of History & Romance (2009), a paean to trees and poetry. Pembroke studied French and Indian history at university, intending to become a diplomat but afterwards succumbed to the law. He has written for Time Magazine, Al Jazeera, the South China Morning Post and Australian news publications.