Jeff Popple reviews three very interesting non-fiction books. More of Jeff’s reviews can be found on his blog: murdermayhemandlongdogs.com
Death Ships by Doug Limbrick
Shawline, $22.95
Canberra author Doug Limbrick provides a fascinating glimpse into a little-known aspect of Australian history with his account of the tragic voyage of six large, disease-ridden ships in the 1850s. The discovery of gold in 1851 had a huge effect on the local economy with most of the available workforce seeking their fortune on the goldfields. The wool industry was particularly badly hit, forcing the closure of mills in England. In Death Ships, Limbrick provides a compelling account of the disastrous attempt to send nearly 5,000 emigrants to Australia to overcome the worker shortage. Well researched and very interesting.
Edith Blake’s War by Krista Vane-Tempest
Newsouth, $29.99
Also from a Canberra author is Edith Blake’s War by Krista Vane-Tempest. In 1915, Edith Blake made her way to Cairo as one of 130 Australian nurses allocated to the British Imperial Military Nursing Service. Once there, she nursed soldiers wounded at Gallipoli and was later sent to England to work in a military hospital. In 1918, she was tragically killed whilst serving on a hospital ship sunk by a German U-boat. Krista, Edith’s great niece, draws on her relative’s letters home to bring to life Edith’s story and provide a rare look at the work of Australia’s war nurses. A moving piece of history.
How to Keep Your Brain Young by Kerryn Phelps
Macmillan, $32.99
One of the greatest fears of growing old is the seemingly inevitable decline in mental agility and function. In How to Keep Your Brain Young, Professor Kerryn Phelps shows how to slow the mental ageing process. In a clear, readable way, she explains how we can keep our brains younger for longer. Using the science of neuroplasticity, she details the fundamentals of a healthy brain and explains how to use simple lifestyle habits to feel sharper, kick out the brain fog and retain mental acuity into old age. A great guide to how we can make the best use of our later years.
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