Banjo (Unabridged)
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- $19.99
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- $19.99
Publisher Description
Balladeer, bushman, soldier, foreign correspondent – the remarkable life of Australia's greatest storyteller
A.B. ‘Banjo’ Paterson is rightly recognised as Australia’s greatest storyteller and most celebrated poet, the boy from the bush who became the voice of a generation. He gave us our unofficial national anthem, ‘Waltzing Matilda’, and treasured ballads such as ‘The Man from Snowy River’ and ‘Clancy of the Overflow’, vivid creations that helped to define our national identity.
But there is more, much more to Banjo’s story, and in this landmark biography, award-winning writer Grantlee Kieza chronicles a rich and varied life, one that straddled two centuries and saw Australia transform from a far-flung colony to a fully fledged nation.
Born in the bush, as a child Banjo rode his pony to a one-room school along a trail frequented by outlaw Ben Hall. As a young man he befriended Breaker Morant, and covered the second Boer War as a reporter. He fudged his age to enlist during World War I, ultimately driving an ambulance before commanding a horse training unit during that conflict. Newspaper editor, columnist, foreign correspondent and ABC broadcaster, he knew countless luminaries of his time, including Rudyard Kipling, Winston Churchill, Field Marshal Haig and Henry Lawson. The tennis ace, notorious ladies’ man, brilliant jockey and celebrated polo player was an eye-witness to countless key moments in Australian history, and saw Carbine and Phar Lap race.
Extensively researched and written with Kieza’s trademark verve, Banjo is a lively and captivating portrait of this truly great Australian.
APPLE BOOKS REVIEW
Despite poet Banjo Paterson's immense influence on Australian culture, many don't know all that much about the man behind "Waltzing Matilda" and "The Man From Snowy River", whose face adorns the ten-dollar bill. Grantlee Kieza's thoughtful, exhaustive biography begins with Paterson’s grandparents and brings us through all the incredible historical moments and people he intersected with. Narrator Peter Byrne is the perfect man for this job, a big Aussie voice for a big Aussie story. Listening to him unfurl the tales of Banjo’s life makes it clear that the art of storytelling will never grow old.