This week, Jeff Popple reviews three books about conflicts, spies and the British Empire. More of Jeff’s reviews can be found on his blog: murdermayhemandlongdogs.com
Uprising by Stephen Gapps
Newsouth, $36.99
Stephen Gapps’ Uprising is an important book that traverses the often overlooked conflict between the early Australian settlers and the First Nations people. Meticulously researched, Uprising chronicles the various violent encounters that followed the end of the First Wiradyuri War of Resistance in 1824. Gapps claims that between 1838 and 1844, there was a vast arc of conflict from what is now northern Victoria through to southeast Queensland. Squatters reported numerous attacks by the local indigenous people, which in turn led to settlers seeking government help “to wage war against the aboriginal natives”. Lucidly written and very detailed, Uprising is a thought-provoking read.
1945: The Reckoning by Phil Craig
Hodder & Stoughton, $34.99
Phil Craig’s 1945: The Reckoning is the concluding chapter in his three-part study of Britain at war. Drawing on personal stories, as well as broad strategic analysis, Craig’s book recounts how the final dramatic acts of the Second World War set Britain, her colonies and her dominions on a new course. From the division in India over whether to support Britain or not, to the bitter post-war struggle in Indochina, to the actions of Australian troops in Borneo in 1945, Craig provides a marvellous, clear-eyed tour through the ramifications of the end of the war for the British Empire. A compelling account.
A Spy at War by Charles Beaumont
Canelo, $34.99
Charles Beaumont’s A Spy at War is the sequel to his impressive A Spy Alone and is an incredibly prescient novel that scarily foreshadowed some of the moves in the Ukrainian conflict after the election of Trump. It follows former British Intelligence agent Simon Sharman as he pursues the assassin of a colleague across war-torn Ukraine. While back in London, a Russian spy ring at the heart of the British Establishment continues to sabotage the support for Ukraine. Mixing intrigue, credible spying and graphic depictions of the war, the book rattles along at a good pace towards the suspenseful conclusion. High-class spy fiction!
