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Line of Fire

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Line of Fire

By: Ian Townsend
Narrated by: David Tredinnick
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About this listen

It's hard to imagine this story as being part of our past, but in 1942, an 11-year-old Australian boy, Richard Manson, and his parents either side of him were shot by the Japanese for suspected spying in Rabaul in Papua New Guinea. Acclaimed Fourth Estate author and award-winning science journalist Ian Townsend has uncovered a fascinating story of World War Two, little known to most Australians. Centring on the hotspot (in every sense) that was Rabaul in World War Two, his account is an intriguing narrative which weaves together Australian history, military conflict and science - with volcanology being the peculiar science which drew the Americans, Japanese and Australians together in conflict in the Pacific in the 1940s - and the story of one ordinary but doomed Australian family. Like The Hare with Amber Eyes, this is a fascinating work of narrative nonfiction, a story of spies, volcanoes, history, conflict and war, set against the romantic, dramatic and ultimately tragic backdrop of Rabaul in World War Two.

©2017 Ian Townsend (P)2017 Bolinda Publishing Pty Ltd World Espionage Imperial Japan War Military
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Very well written, and read. I finished this in two days and couldn't stop listening. I was really taken to Rabaul and the lives of these people.

deeply moving & detailed.

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Struggled with who was who as the story unfolded, and change in author's voice. Narrator soothed raw facts into reality. Would like to listen to other Ian Townsend historical novels here too.

This Really Happened

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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.