This week, Jeff Popple reviews three fascinating new history books. More of Jeff’s reviews can be found on his blog: murdermayhemandlongdogs.com
King Richard by Michael Dobbs
Scribe, $35
The chaos of the Trump presidency and the various impeachment attempts often invoked ill-informed reference to the final days of President Nixon. Now with King Richard, American journalist Michael Dobbs shows what really happened during the downfall of the Nixon presidency. Drawing on thousands of hours of newly released tape recordings, many made secretly by Nixon, Dobbs provides an intimate and absorbing narrative of the last hundred days of the presidency. With great clarity, he reveals the behind-the-scenes manoeuvring, as the Watergate burglars and their handlers turned on each other, revealing their direct connection to the White House, and Nixon’s response. A fascinating and informative read.
Convict-Era Port Arthur by David W. Cameron
Viking, $34.99
Convict-Era Port Arthur by prolific Canberran historian David Cameron takes us back to Australia’s own dark days. With his usual readable style, Cameron provides a comprehensive, well-researched history of the Port Arthur penal settlement from the first arrival of the convicts till its closure in 1877. Using a variety of sources, including detailed archive records, Cameron tells the story of Port Arthur through the words of the soldiers, convicts and administrators who spent time there. With a good eye for the telling detail and story, Cameron brings alive what it was like to serve time in Australia’s most feared convict prison. Recommended.
The Platoon Commander by John O’Halloran with Ric Teague
Hachette, $34.99
Informed accounts and histories of Australia’s involvement in the Vietnam War are now steadily coming out and this personal recollection by John O’Halloran is a very welcomed addition. O’Halloran was a Tamworth boy called up for national service early in the war. As a tough and determined 21-year-old, he guided his platoon through some of the biggest conflicts of the war, including the Battle of Long Tan and Operation Bribie, where he led a fixed bayonet charge against a Viet Cong jungle stronghold. Long respected for his role in the War, O’Halloran’s personal story makes for compelling reading and deserves a wide audience.
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