In Your Face The Life And Times Of Billy The Texan Longley

Biography & Memoir History Australiana

Rochelle Jackson’s In Your Face traces the wild ride of Billy “The Texan” Longley, the feared Painters and Dockers Union enforcer whose courtroom dramas and underworld feuds coloured Melbourne’s waterfront for decades. This 2005 first edition paperback blends true-crime thrills with street-level social history, all illustrated with rare photos that bring the era to life.

The biography peels back the myths surrounding Longley’s crimes, jail terms and headline-making clashes, showing how one man’s swagger echoed through Australia’s labour movement and popular culture. Jackson’s interviews and police files keep the pace swift without sacrificing nuance, making the book a gripping pick for fans of Australian true crime, local history and memoir.

At 246 pages, the volume is clean and solid: smooth spine, tight binding, no writing, no dog-ears, no smoke odours—just a very good copy ready for immediate reading or gifting. Its compact format slips easily into a bag for commutes, beach days or archive visits.

Collectors seeking first editions or readers after an authentic slice of Aussie grit will appreciate this well-preserved copy of In Your Face, an enduring portrait of Billy Longley and the docks he ruled.