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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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About this listen

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, Readings Best Non-Fiction, Winner

2024, Indie Book Awards Non Fiction, Winner

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

2024, Indie Book Awards Book of the Year, Winner

2024, Danger Awards Non-Fiction, Short-listed

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

2024, Nib Literary Award, Long-listed

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

2024, Australian Political Book of the Year, 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)
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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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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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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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As a fifth-generation white Queenslander I found this story heavy and compelling. and preciseI had to keep putting it down to absorb the human tragedy of the cruel institutions that created my home. The dark secrets are exposed and explained in David Marr’s deeply researched, clear narrative.

Terrible and truly told

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Great, enlightening & detailed work from David and even more enjoyable as read by the author. We haven’t learnt enough about these stories and it’s great to see the truth being prized out. These sorts of publications help us grow up as a nation and as a people - would recommend to anyone looking to fill in some of the blanks in our historical narrative.

Rarely told histories

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I found it told the truth about the history of forced colonisation over the original habitats of our country.
Also to find out over the past years of tracing my ancestors to discover that I a descendant of Lt Frederick Wheeler.

The truth of our history that was never told to us.

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Well done David thanks for disclosing the stomach turning truth of our past. I protested 50 years ago when leaving school that we had been lied to and deceived in our teaching, and sadly many Australians are still in denial. This is a comprehensive eye opener into Australia's History and it would do many Australians a world of good to learn it and accept it. I highly recommend this book, but only if you can handle the truth. 🙏

The facts our History Books Hide.

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The theses were well supported and made. It became, however, unnecessarily repetitive towards the end.

The insights provided explains how the social and political elites have established their air of entitlement.

A confronting history and commentary

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I liked the detail of the stories and that the source’s were mentioned. So much hidden history.

The number of civilian deaths

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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.