Australian military history is full of heroes - big names that loom large in the public memory of the nation’s wartime experiences, like Monash, Chauvel, Jacka and Blamey.

There is no question that these famous figures of the Australian Army are important, but their story is not the only story. There are also the individuals who shaped the history of the Australian Army in the 20th century, as intellectuals, strategists and administrators, but are largely invisible in popular memory. The Shadow Men brings together some of Australia’s best military historians to shed light on ten of these men and to bring their achievements and influence into the foreground.