I loved this exciting retelling of the story of the wreck of the Dutch ship, Batavia, off the coast of West Australia in 1629. It is a story that has everything: maritime adventure, disaster, mutineers, horror, brave survivors, and, finally, rescue and retribution. The author gives a day-by-day account of the true and extraordinary events, all in the present tense so that the book reads like an unputdownable thriller.
The Shipwreck of the Batavia combines in just the one tale the birth of the world's first corporation, the brutality of colonisation, the battle of good vs evil, the derring-do of sea-faring adventure, mutiny, ship-wreck, love, lust, blood-lust, petty fascist dictatorship, criminality, a reign of terror, murders most foul, sexual slavery, natural nobility, survival, retribution, rescue, first contact with native peoples and so much more. Described by author Peter FitzSimons as "a true Adults Only version of Lord of the Flies, meeting Nightmare on Elm Street," the story is set in 1629, when the pride of the Dutch East India…
Though I have spent most of my life in Sydney, Australia, Nowra’s book showed me that there were many fascinating stories about the city that I either did not know or about which I only had a vague knowledge.
For instance, a story about the peaceful and beautiful harbourside suburb of Clontarf tells of the attempted assassination there of Prince Alfred, the second son of Queen Victoria, in 1870. Then there is the Dunbar disaster thirteen years earlier, when a sailing ship carrying 122 people, passengers and crew, hit rocks near the southern side of the entrance to Sydney Harbour. All aboard died apart from one able seaman, who was miraculously lifted by a wave and dumped onto the rocks.
'I came to Sydney from Melbourne in 1978 and immediately fell in love with its history, the sandstone buildings, the gorgeous harbour, the bridge, the Opera House, its ad hoc streets and its denizens.'
In Sydney, acclaimed playwright and author Louis Nowra - author of Kings Cross and Woolloomooloo - expands his gaze to explore the energy, beauty, vulgarity, dynamism and pulsating sense of selfimportance of his adopted city. This big, bustling portrait of Sydney is told through profiles of people, high and low, with a cast of criminals and premiers, ordinary folk, entertainers, artists, thieves and visionaries.
I loved this hilariously funny book. The centenarian exited his nursing home an hour before his birthday party, which was to be attended by all the local dignitaries. Soon, he finds himself on a pedal-driven rail cart with a new friend, a dead body, and a large amount of money, while being pursued by both the police and a group of criminals.
Though his present-day adventures are great fun, much of the book is a glorious romp through the history of the 20th century. Through numerous humorous coincidences earlier in life, the old man had met and been of service to some of the most famous or infamous figures of the century, such as Joseph Stalin, Mao Tsetung, Kim Il Sung, and Winston Churchill.
A larger-than-life old man with a fondness for vodka goes on an unexpected adventure in this whimsical novel -- perfect for fans of Forrest Gump and A Man Called Ove.
The international publishing sensation -- more than six million copies sold worldwide!
A reluctant centenarian much like Forrest Gump (if Gump were an explosives expert) decides it's not too late to start over . . .
After a long and eventful life, Allan Karlsson ends up in a nursing home, believing it to be his last stop. The only problem is that he's still in good health, and in one…
This essential guide to the night sky in the Southern Hemisphere in 2025 is specially written for people without prior knowledge of astronomy and those living in cities. It is highly suitable for children.
Despite the brightening of the night sky by light pollution, there is plenty to see from cities. In 2025, events include total and partial eclipses of the Moon, close approaches of bright planets to each other and favourable opportunities to see meteor showers.
Newly designed clear star maps show where to look in the night sky. There are descriptions of events in the sky each month, updated information on the planets, a feature on First Nations astronomy, large colour photographs of the night sky, and much else.
