Written by a former Managing Editor who is also a well-known writer, this text charts the origins of Auckland University Press up to its formal recognition in 1972. It is in two parts: the first, up to 1966, based on documents, and the second written in the first person and relying partly on memory. The epilogue is a lightning sketch of the period 1972-86; and the introduction with equal speed covers changes since then. A list of publications covers the entire output of the press to the present day and includes detail not usually included in bibliographies. Dennis McEldowney offers here a document in the history of the book in New Zealand; and a view of university politics and administration, glimpses of New Zealand culture in the making.