|
Peter John Allen Fitzsimons AM
(born 29 June 1961) is an Australian author, and radio and television
celebrity. He is a former national representative rugby union player and
has been the chair of the Australian Republic Movement since 2015.
FitzSimons has written for The Sydney Morning Herald since 1988,
and has been a sports columnist for that publication since 1987. He
regularly appears on the Australian Foxtel program The Back Page, where he gets to share his opinions on many topics.
Fitzsimons
is a prolific writer and is one of Australia's best-selling non-fiction
writers. He has written books about subjects such as Nancy Wake, the
shipwreck of the Batavia, Sir John Monash, Breaker Morant, Charles
Kingsford-Smith, Ned Kelly and John Eales.
Fitzsimons is married to Australian TV presenter Lisa Wilkinson. They have three children and live in Sydney.
Fitzsimons
has outed himself as an atheist and a republican. On 13 June 2011
Fitzsimons was named a Member of the Order of Australia for service to
literature as a biographer, sports journalist and commentator, and to
sporting organisations.
Synopsis
The incredible true story of one of the most extraordinary and inspirational prison breaks in history.
Boston, 1869. Members of the Clan na Gael - agitators for an Irish republic - hatch a daring plan to free six Irish political prisoners from the most remote gaol on earth, Fremantle Prison in Western Australia.
Under the guise of a whale hunt, Captain Anthony sets sail on the Catalpa, risking his life to rescue the men from the prison, known among the inmates as 'a living tomb'. What follows is one of history's greatest escape stories - a tale of courage and cunning that stands as an enormously significant event in the histories of no fewer than four nations.
Americans were drawn to the story from the first, most particularly to its climactic moment. When the six escaped prisoners are found to be aboard an American whaler - the Catalpa.
For Ireland, who had suffered English occupation for 700 years, a successful escape would be a call to arms. It would show the English that people capable of launching an escape on the other side of the world really would stop at nothing. For the English the humiliation of an escape would mean the 'Irish question' would not go away.
And for the young Australia, the Catalpa Rescue
was a demonstration that those seeking independence for their own
country could triumph, that Great Britain was not unbeatable.
Told with Fitzsimons' trademark pace and verve, The Catalpa Rescue is
a true story that has it all: adventure, politics, morality,
colonialism, the fight for independence and, most importantly, the
triumph of good men against all odds.
"I
am embarrassed to say I knew nothing of this grand story. A sad
indictment on my history teachers perhaps? As a seventh generation
Australian of Irish descent - it has been a privilege to learn about
these heroes. Bravo Peter - your finest book yet!" - Daily Telegraph
"A
great story, and it shocks me how few Australians know it. The story is
told in fast paced interesting fashion, however it's somewhat of a rose
tinted glasses view of the history but I don't really have problem with
that type of storytelling method." - Audiobook Reviews
"This
was a superb story. really well read and very captivating. I thoroughly
enjoyed this. anyone with the slightest Irish heritage should listen
and/or read this story" - Audible.com
On Media
Audiobook on CD-ROM, complete with cover art on the CD. Supplied in windowed CD sleeve, no case provided.
Shipping - Domestic with Free mail to all customers. Express Post option also available @ $8 extra. No International orders, sorry
In the unlikely event that you have any questions or issues after the transaction, please contact me via eBay messages
Positive feedback will be left for all purchasers after payment, and I would request the same from the buyer if satisfied.