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  • A Fortunate Life

  • By: A. B. Facey
  • Narrated by: Roger Cardwell
  • Length: 13 hrs and 5 mins
  • 4.8 out of 5 stars (626 ratings)

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A Fortunate Life

By: A. B. Facey
Narrated by: Roger Cardwell
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Publisher's Summary

Born in 1894, Facey lived the rough frontier life of a sheep farmer, survived the gore of Gallipoli, raised a family through the Depression and spent 60 years with his beloved wife, Evelyn. Despite enduring hardships we can barely imagine today, Facey always saw his life as a "fortunate" one. A true classic of Australian literature, his simply written autobiography is an inspiration. It is the story of a life lived to the full - the extraordinary journey of an ordinary man.

©1981 Albert B. Facey (P)2005 Australian Broadcasting Corporation
  • Unabridged Audiobook

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Record of early WA history

Interesting, but pity about dreadful pronouncement of place names.
PLEASE get pronunciations of Narrogin, Albany, Pingelly and Mundaring consistent with local dialect. It's said "Narro"djin", Albany (short sharp A, not as in all), Pin"djelley", and Mun"dare"ring
Also disappointed that after all the numerous miracles and fortune, the writer chose to include a particular chapter despising God, for letting him come upon bad times...possibly forgetting that as mere man, we'd never know what good was...if we could not compare it with anything.

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13 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars
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Editing...

I loved this book but the reader's pronunciation of Western Australian towns and Perth suburbs needs reviewing.

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11 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
  • Jim
  • 07-01-2019

Miss pronunciation of place names.

Finding it hard not to cringe with the miss pronunciation of Western Australian town and place names.😔

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8 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Moved to tears

One of the most moving books I’ve ever experienced. I hope this book is presented in Australian schools. The likes of Albert will not be seen again. What a lovely man. Such a hard life and yet so grateful is he for the the good parts.

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6 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Thoroughly enjoyed!

Loved every word of it! Great picture of Australia and Australians in the early 1900’s. A very interesting life story, which Albert recalled in incredible detail.

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5 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

chapter tune

great book. probably needs to be re read now. put into a different style.
the tune every chapter should be deleted as it gets very annoying and distracting repeating every chapter.

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4 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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inspirational

I am in awe of this remarkable man. What an amazing life. I am enriched by reading his experiences as a pioneer as well as the shocking time in the war. His gentle, intelligent and resilient nature is truly inspirational. I loved everything about this book which was at times emotionally moving but always extremely uplifting.

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4 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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A simply told story of a pioneer in Western Australia

The narrator does an excellent job of mirroring the simplicity with which the writer has penned his life story. From turn of the 19th-20th century he tells of his childhood experiences of poverty & lack of education or care. He writes of how he survives & details why he tries a great variety of jobs. Facey experiences 2 world wars & sees great changes in Australia during his life. A resilient humble man & a simple but powerful account of a life of struggle with both joys& pain.

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4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Simply an awesome tail

AB Facey epitomizes the archetypal Aussie battler, that fights and rises to have a truly fulfilling and wonderfully inspiring life through courage, simple dogged persistence and a never say die attitude, Bert is an ordinary bloke that becomes extraordinary, part jackaroo, part prize fighter, part stoic, part family man, part war hero, part farmer, local politician, and the epitome of what we (fellas) all aspire to, to be a truly good bloke. In this case one with an extraordinary story to tell. I know You’ll be inspired as I was!

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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A must for all children!

Great read! Really enjoyed the wntire book. Couldn’t stop listening! Would love to have met Bert Facey!

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2 people found this helpful

In the spirit of reconciliation, Audible acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.