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Killing for Country

A Family Story

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Killing for Country

By: David Marr
Narrated by: David Marr
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Summary

David Marr was shocked to discover forebears who served with the brutal Native Police in the bloodiest years on the frontier. Killing for Country is the result – a soul-searching Australian history.

This is a richly detailed saga of politics and power in the colonial world – of land seized, fortunes made and lost, and the violence let loose as squatters and their allies fought for possession of the country – a war still unresolved in today's Australia.

2024, Victorian Premier's Literary Awards Non-Fiction Book Award, Short-listed

2023, The Readings Prize Non-Fiction, Winner

2024, Indie Book Awards (Australia) Non Fiction, Winner

2024, Australian Book Industry Award (ABIA) Small Publishers' Adult Book of the Year, Short-listed

2024, Indie Book Awards Book of the Year, Winner

2024, Danger Awards Crime Non-Fiction, Short-listed

2024, Ned Kelly Award Best True Crime, Short-listed

2024, Nib Literary Award (aka 'The Nib': CAL Waverley Library Award for Literature) Long-listed

2024, Prime Minister's Literary Awards Australian History, Short-listed

2024, Australian Political Book of the Year Award, Short-listed

2024, BookPeople (formerly ABA) Book of the Year Award Adult Non-Fiction, Short-listed

©2023 David Marr (P)2024 Bolinda Publishing Australia, New Zealand & Oceania War

Critic Reviews

'Killing For Country is a timely exercise in truth-telling amid a disturbing resurgence of denialism.' (The Age)
'Killing for Country ... stands out for its unflinching eye, its dogged research, and the quality and power of its writing.' (The Australian Book Review)
'Killing for Country … shines a light into the dark shameful corners of our collective national experience. What we will find when we look and listen won't be pretty, but it is necessary to confront – not to be captives of history, but to learn from it and transcend it.' (The Conversation)
All stars
Most relevant
As hard as it is to hear, this is a book that all Australians should listen to. Powerfully told by the author.

Gripping and painful

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The purity and its effect of “truth” is determined by the number of who know and accept it.

The colonialists truth

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This was a hard but important listen. David Marr’s bravery in telling this very personal family story that reveals the horrors committed on our First Nations People is a must for understanding our history.

This story must be told

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A must known story of Australia’s violent and brutal past and really not so long past.

A must read/listen too.

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It's incredible how the truth may be long in coming, but you can be sure it will always arrive.

The most educational book I've read for ages!

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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.