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The Ballad of Abdul Wade
- Narrated by: John Voce
- Length: 10 hrs and 16 mins
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The Ballad of Abdul Wade
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Publisher's Summary
When Afghan entrepreneur Abdul Wade first brought his camel trains to the outback, he was hailed as a hero. Horses couldn’t access many remote settlements, especially those stricken by flood or drought, and camel trains rode to the rescue time and time again.
But with success came fierce opposition fuelled by prejudice. The camel was not even classed as an animal under Australian law, and, in a climate of colonial misinformation, hyperbole and fear, camel drivers such as Wade were shown almost as little respect. Yet all the while, for those in need, the ships of the desert continued to appear on the outback horizon.
After his interest was piqued by a 19th-century photo of a camel train in a country town, Ryan Butta found himself on the trail of Australia’s earliest Afghan camel-drivers. Separating the bulldust from the bush poetry, he reveals the breadth and depth of white Australian protectionism and prejudice. Told with flair and authority, this gritty alternative history defies the standard horse-powered folklore to reveal the untold debt this country owes to humble dromedaries, their drivers and those who brought them here.
Longlisted for the Indie Book Awards Non Fiction 2023
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What listeners say about The Ballad of Abdul Wade
Average Customer RatingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Anonymous User
- 13-01-2024
Good history and well researched— pity about the woke lecture
I found this book very well researched, well written and presented. I always suspected there was much to learn about the Afghans and the camels of Australia. This book showed how much our history has been “cloaked” in miss information. BUT I found it totally unnecessary for a big woke lecture near the end. It spoiled a good history.
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Richard Hanlon
- 15-12-2022
Revision of history
It was refreshing to read such an extensive review of Australian history and to see credit provided to the forgotten Afghani camel drivers. It does us all some good to see those who created the white Australia policy bought to task.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- louisecross
- 22-10-2022
The Real History
Excellent research and telling of a real Australian Pioneer life.
I live in Far North Queensland and volunteer at the museum in the home of John Moffat mining entrepreneur. My particular interest being Mr Wade's time spent here, Irvinebank being between Lappa and Mt Garnet.
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