Brilliant!

Brilliantly written. Brilliantly narrated.
Brilliantly describes the foundations of a nation and national character. Just Brilliant!!!

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1 person found this helpful

Fine portrait of a remarkable man

I found Grantlee Kieza's Macquarie extremely interesting and well-told. Macquarie is a famous name to me, but I knew nothing at all about his career before he arrived in Australia, nor of his growing up on a rocky island in the Hebrides, and all this was well worth hearing. The conflicts he had to deal with in Sydney almost made me weep - at such an early stage of the development of NSW, it is a great shame that so many people such as Marsden fought Macquarie every inch of the way. Many of his ideas were remarkably enlightened for the time, and he saw that NSW would not make progress unless many of the convicts were given tickets-of-leave to become part of the building process. I was not entirely happy with reader Peter Byrne, who has a strange habit of pausing before key words - not only when he is introducing quotes. But generally he is pretty good in making the story easy to follow. Grantlee Kieza is to be congratulated for his careful research and good narrative.

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2 people found this helpful

Another winner from Grantlee Kieza

Another fine biography by Grantlee Kieza with his trademark scrupulous research, facility with words and the skill to spin a good yarn with, in this case, a pronounced Australian flavour. I can’t go past the Publisher’s summary of the book as far as it goes, but it is misleading in that there is no mention of the fact that Macquarie was almost 50 years old when he arrived in Australia and much of the book deals with Macquarie’s early years in Scotland and in military service mainly in the West Indies and India. It is often a difficult read, dealing as it does with wars and invasions to dispossess people of their land and wealth, brutal floggings, executions, and hideous racism. Macquarie’s personal life is a poignant theme throughout and a humane contrast to the horrors which are a constant background.

This book is marketed to an Australian readership which is logical as Macquarie is a prominent figure in Australia’s post-colonial history, and as evidenced by the publicity emphasising Macquarie’s role in Australia and the choice of Peter Byrne as narrator. Byrne narrates with a marked Aussie accent which is inappropriate given that nobody spoke like that in the 19th century and not all Australians speak like that two centuries later. Perhaps a Scots brogue emulating Macquarie's would have been a better choice.

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2 people found this helpful

A great read about a great man.

Without a doubt Australia would not be what it is today without the visionary of this man. A great insight to his efforts and his life.

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An excellent biography of The Father of Australia

This is a well researched, presented, and engaging portrayal of the life of Lachlan Macquarie - read with great style.

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Awesome Australian history

Very good detailed history of his life and the development of Australia as a nation. Clear explanations, good reading and maintained interest throughout

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Wow what a life and what a story!

I thoroughly enjoyed the book and didn't want his story to end. I had no idea how influential Macquarie was in Australias foundation, it is amazing to think how different Australia may have turned out if he had never taken charge in those early years. He had such an amazing life and was a man before his time, with his adventures in Australia only a small part of it. The book also covers his life before Australia and that in itself was fascinating, as Macquarie lived a life of military service and saw considerable action around the globe.
The narration suited the book perfectly and I felt like I was there with Macquarie (feeling his many struggles and frustrations with him along the way).
I just can't recommend the book more highly and if you got this far through my review I think you know what to do!

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4 people found this helpful

A must read (or listen) for every proud Australian

This detailed account of the life and action of the “father of Australia”. Well written and particularly well spoken. Peter’s tone and voice make the words sink in. Great book!!

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A window on our past.

The performance was excellent. I felt like I was listening to Macquarie himself. This book has piqued my interest in learning about our history in much more detail.

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What a Man

Brilliant biography, brilliant narration, brilliant Macquarie. One of the most enjoyable books I have listened to written about the best Governor of Australia. Great Australian history.

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