Arthur Tange, the redoubtable and to many intimidating figure who sat at the top level of the Commonwealth Public Service from 1954 to 1979, has been fortunate in his biographer. Peter Edwards has done a fine job on Tange, but his book is also an illuminating contribution to the history of an important period in the Australian story. It deserves a wide readership. Tange was a principal architect of two major departments of state, the departments of External Affairs (now Foreign Affairs and Trade) and of Defence. While he was in the former (from 1946 to 1965, becoming its Secretary…