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  • Girt

  • The Unauthorised History of Australia, Volume 1
  • By: David Hunt
  • Narrated by: David Hunt
  • Length: 6 hrs and 43 mins
  • 4.2 out of 5 stars (2,311 ratings)

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Girt cover art

Girt

By: David Hunt
Narrated by: David Hunt
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Publisher's Summary

Girt. No word could better capture the essence of Australia....

In this hilarious history, David Hunt reveals the truth of Australia's past, from megafauna to Macquarie - the cock-ups and curiosities, the forgotten eccentrics and Eureka moments that have made us who we are.

Girt introduces forgotten heroes like Mary McLoghlin, transported for the crime of "felony of sock", and Trim the cat, who beat a French monkey to become the first animal to circumnavigate Australia.

It recounts the misfortunes of the escaped Irish convicts who set out to walk from Sydney to China, guided only by a hand-drawn paper compass, and explains the role of the coconut in Australia's only military coup.

Our nation's beginnings are steeped in the strange, the ridiculous, and the frankly bizarre. Girt proudly reclaims these stories for all of us.

Not to listen to it would be un-Australian.

©2013 David Hunt (P)2015 Audible, Ltd

Critic Reviews

"A sneaky, sometimes shocking peek under the dirty rug of Australian history." (John Birmingham)
"Hilarious and insightful - Hunt has found the deep wells of humour in Australia's history." (Chris Taylor, The Chaser)

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What listeners say about Girt

Average Customer Ratings
Overall
  • 4 out of 5 stars
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  • 2 Stars
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  • Jen
  • 30-11-2016

A terrible performance and annoying content

What disappointed you about Girt?

I'm Australian so I am fine with listening to Australian accents, but the reader (and author) is just horrible to listen to.

It's like listening to the token "Aussie Larakin" character from a dodgy 80's movie. Choice of language and stupid impersonations are just charmless and really unpleasant to listen to.

The book promises a quirky and well thought out approach to Australian history and delivers a barrage of crappy impersonations, blatant racism and dick jokes.

Has Girt put you off other books in this genre?

Yep. I'm going to give a wide berth to any history work that claims to be "irreverent", "hilarious" or "unauthorised"

How did the narrator detract from the book?

A narrator without charm or warmth. Like drunk uncle Trev who thinks he's a bit of a card cornering you with a crap story at Christmas.

If you could play editor, what scene or scenes would you have cut from Girt?

I'd remove the flat jokes, racism, and general smart-arsed commentary. Give me quality history writing not a stand up routine!

Any additional comments?

I SOOOO wanted to like this but I just can't.

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25 people found this helpful

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

True Blue History of Australia - Addicted

This is the greatest history of Australia I've ever read. I used to think Australian history was bland and uneventful, but I was dead wrong - little did I know that I was soon to come into contact with this TRULY GREAT HISTORY. It has piqued my interest in the history of my forefathers. Although this book is selective in its content, it is thought provoking, hilarious, irreverent and is uniquely Australian in its storytelling. It also highlights parallels between Australia's European founding & contemporary issues. I have enjoyed every minute of this audiobook, I don't think I have ever found a book as truly funny as this one.

David Hunt's narrating only further adds to the quality of the story. He does humorous accents, has a conversational manner and brings extra life to this already lively book.

I will definitely listen to this again and again! I am watching and waiting for his coming sequel to this book - and will snap it up as soon as it is made into an audiobook!.


15/15 !!!

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21 people found this helpful

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

Too many dad jokes!

Great informative content but unfortunately not narrated well and peppered with unnecessary (an unfortunately not funny) jokes after almost every sentence!! Why?! This could have been so good but instead my wife and I got 2 hours in and couldn't listen any longer

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11 people found this helpful

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    3 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Tries to hard

Some very interesting facts although it tries too hard to be funny. Would have been better without the joke per sentence delivery.

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8 people found this helpful

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    1 out of 5 stars
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Self Centred Drivel

Shallow humour, tacky effects, so low brow I got angry. Ethnocentric clap trap. Even thought it was free I deleted it. Moronic.

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7 people found this helpful

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    1 out of 5 stars
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couldn't look past the cringeworthy racist accents

I was looking forward to this audiobook however I could only get through about 25 mins before I had to stop. The impressions of various accents were really offensive and just unnecessary. im disappointed I couldn't continue with this audiobook. Perhaps you could consider a new narration without the accents.

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6 people found this helpful

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    2 out of 5 stars
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  • Jim
  • 26-11-2016

Accents unnecessary.

Underneath the relentless sarcasm and terrible foreign accents there is some really interesting historical content.

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6 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

who knew?

Australian history could actually be interesting? After the years of torment at school learning the boring stuff, oh god please not more tedious explorers, nobody bothered to tell us that the personalities behind this were actually interesting, mostly scandalous, strong willed individuals. Pirates, traitors, self serving corrupt public servants. I was hooked from the start. I am always dubious about the author reading, but either exception of a few dodgy accents, I enjoyed David Hunt's reading. highly recommended.

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6 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

cut to the chase

having had a long and dull exposure to australian history as a child and student, this fresh take on history draws a full canvas of the absurd and follisome antics of early european "discovery" and settlement of terra australis, a true antipodean view. great fun.

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5 people found this helpful

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

Entertaining and informative

It is not a hard hitting analysis. Rather, it's chronology of light fluff. It's an enjoyable frolic through Australian colonial history.

I did find that in listening too long at one time, the sarcasm and dry ironic wit became a little tiresome. However, dipping in and out was good fun and offered a few lol moments.

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  • patricia heffernan
  • 27-12-2015

Typically irreverent.

What did you love best about Girt?

The tongue in cheek approach to re acquainting me with the iconic historical figures and happenings.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Girt?

The Rum Rebellion

What do you think the narrator could have done better?

I was hooked from the start, so, nothing else.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Lots of laughs.

Any additional comments?

I felt the narration was similar to Bill Bryson

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2 people found this helpful

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  • steve finkelstein
  • 15-01-2023

Overwhelmingly annoying, and occasionally humorous

This book is interesting and annoying and overwhelming all at the same time. I think, purchasing the actual book and reading it would be an improvement in the enjoyability of the book itself. A whiplash sound is used whenever footnote citations appear. There are a lot of footnotes, and after a while, you feel like you’re the person being flogged. Finally, the narrator talks fast. Really fast! You can change the speed to 0.9 and the book is fine. A speed of 0.8 makes the narrator sound like he is on the edge of inebriation.

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1 person found this helpful

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    3 out of 5 stars
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  • Jodelle
  • 31-07-2016

Seriously irritating voice. Can I get a refund?

For the first time ever I just couldn't listen. Regular narration voice is OK but the awful voices used for quotes drove me over the edge. Traveling to AU soon so will try the book in print. Love love audio books. Just not this one.

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  • Bjorn Amherd
  • 10-07-2015

Good first half

After the first 3hrs, the novelty starts to wear off a bit. Lots of names and locations

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    5 out of 5 stars
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  • james willobee
  • 15-02-2023

Entertaining

Great listen. I appreciate the effort involved in creating the different characterizations. I will listen again, and have already purchased the next book in series.

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  • SharpeKat
  • 14-02-2023

Excellent narration by the author who is an Australian

David Hunt’s books, narrated brilliantly by David Hunt, are some of the most enjoyable history books I have listened to. The puns didn’t really stick with me, rather I became absorbed in the narrative, the characters, & the connections between Australian, English & US history. But wait! There’s more!
The “True Girt” Trilogy is authored & narrated by an actual Australian in an authentic Australian voice, whenever I could hear it over my own hysterical laughter.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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  • "cptcpt"
  • 13-01-2023

Super fun!

An excellent performance of an engaging history of a very quirky country written in a highly entertaining humorist style.

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  • Ryan Blackhawke
  • 07-08-2022

Could not stop laughing

This irreverent history of Australia had me in stitches and I listened to this in one setting and bought volumes 2 & 3 so I could laugh so hard that I pass out. I've recommended this book to all of my friends and now to you, Dear Reader.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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  • J. St Clair
  • 15-05-2022

Had me laughing from the beginning.

History is about storytelling. David Hunt knows to hilariously tell a story about Australia's history. One of my favorite listens.

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    3 out of 5 stars
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  • Aiden
  • 23-07-2021

Interesting history drowning in puns

I enjoyed what history there was, but I was hoping for something more like David McCullough and found the attempts at humor distracting, and occasionally a little uncomfortable. Maybe a good intro for a bored highschool boy.

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  • Wickerman49
  • 24-05-2015

must have book of the year !!

this is the one book youMUST have in your library this year. Funny, sarcastic history of thr ' land down under ' performed by the author with much humour and wit. This will have you laughing out loud when you least expect it. Cannot wait for the sequel.

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  • timmots
  • 26-07-2015

A breeze through Aussie history

I have an Aussie girlfriend and am about to move there so I thought I'd better learn something. This was entertaining and informative. If Bill Bryson did a book on Australia, it probably wouldn't be as good as this one!

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  • Mr. G. Albert
  • 30-09-2023

Enjoyable

First book I have listened to, enjoyed it and learning a bit about Auz worth listening to.

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  • Anonymous User
  • 14-05-2023

Entertaining Overview of Sydney’s Colonial Past

This was a very entertaining and informative overview of the early days of the Colony of NSW. Great fun.

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  • Chad Henshaw
  • 30-10-2021

Good but with annoying sound effects

The book is an entertaining mix of fact and comedy, but the choice to have a whip crack sound every few minutes is annoying. I’ll decide when I’ll laugh TYVM.

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  • David
  • 05-11-2017

Unreliable history

A jokey canter through what is presented as Australia's early colonial history replete with racial stereotyping and delivered in a jokey manner which makes you doubt the reliability of the stories being related. The Scots are miserly, the Irish are stupid and untrustworthy, the English are all upper class bigots. The racial stereotyping is compounded by the awful attempts at Scottish Irish and English accents which are mostly well wide of the mark.

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  • Ali
  • 06-12-2015

Silly history

Would you listen to Girt again? Why?

Absolutely , the book was short and I gave me a great insight into very early Australian history. I wasn't expecting it to only be about this early period and that later periods would e in subsequent books so that I will listen again when the promised Girt II: True Girt comes out.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Not appropriate to this book but I would have to say the Bastard himself William Bligh every time it came to one of his interludes.

What about David Hunt’s performance did you like?

Yes but I found the accent very thick, I don't mean his natural Australian accent but whenever he tried British accents the book became more than a little incomprehensible

If you made a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

About as Australian as History can get!

Any additional comments?

Don't take it all to seriously, there are things wrong here that I know of British history so I am sure there is some wrong for Australia's history to but the whole thing taught me much I never knew about Australia and the book presented it all in a very fun way that made it all the more memorable

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