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The Catalpa Rescue
- The Gripping Story of the Most Dramatic and Successful Prison Break in Australian History
- Narrated by: Michael Carman
- Length: 16 hrs and 20 mins
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Publisher's Summary
The incredible true story of one of the most extraordinary and inspirational prison breaks in history.
Boston, 1869. Members of the Clan na Gael - agitators for an Irish republic - hatch a daring plan to free six Irish political prisoners from the most remote gaol on earth, Fremantle Prison in Western Australia.
Under the guise of a whale hunt, Captain Anthony sets sail on the Catalpa, risking his life to rescue the men from the prison, known among the inmates as 'a living tomb'. What follows is one of history's greatest escape stories - a tale of courage and cunning that stands as an enormously significant event in the histories of no fewer than four nations.
Americans were drawn to the story from the first, most particularly to its climactic moment. When the six escaped prisoners are found to be aboard an American whaler - the Catalpa.
For Ireland, who had suffered English occupation for 700 years, a successful escape would be a call to arms. It would show the English that people capable of launching an escape on the other side of the world really would stop at nothing. For the English the humiliation of an escape would mean the 'Irish question' would not go away.
And for the young Australia, the Catalpa Rescue was a demonstration that those seeking independence for their own country could triumph, that Great Britain was not unbeatable. Told with FitzSimons' trademark pace and verve, The Catalpa Rescue is a true story that has it all: adventure, politics, morality, colonialism, the fight for independence and, most importantly, the triumph of good men against all odds.
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What listeners say about The Catalpa Rescue
Average Customer RatingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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- Rob Aughey
- 20-08-2019
How did I not k ow this story?
Wow, I am embarrassed to say I knew nothing of this grand story. A sad indictment on my history teachers perhaps? As a seventh generation Australian of Irish descent - it has been a privilege to learn about these heroes.
Bravo Peter Fitz - your finest book yet!
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2 people found this helpful
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- Niall Cunniffe
- 22-05-2019
Great Story, however
It great story, and it shocks me how few Australians know it.
The story is told in fast paced interesting fashion, however it's somewhat of a rose tinted glasses view of the history but I don't teally have problem with that type of storytelling method.
The only real issue I have is the reader problem of mispronouncing irish people names or place name, this is always distracting but it's also painfully to listen to as Irish born Australian.
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2 people found this helpful
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- Richard Forshaw
- 11-09-2019
brilliant historical Australia/Irish story.
this was a superb story. really well read and very captivating. I thoroughly enjoyed this. anyone with the slightest Irish heritage should listen/read this story
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1 person found this helpful
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- Carolyn
- 25-08-2019
Meaty and captivating
Was a trek through history, had to back track a bit but glad to have read this one
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1 person found this helpful
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- Amazon Customer
- 18-07-2019
historic and very enjoyable
narrator voice good but his Irish accent is poor. well researched and Good structure too
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- Ray Farrell
- 11-07-2019
Much more than the story of the Catalpa rescue
irish listeners would find the Irish accent, which was such a big part of the story, very un Irish. the narrator should have known that Irish person and place names are a minefield. He stepped on many mines. That said, his narration was excellent.
Mr Fitzsimons and his research team have excelled themselves. it is a book worthy of a place in any school library in Australia, America or Ireland under the section "History".
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- Damo JP
- 10-06-2019
Catalpa - amazing presentation
Excellent and well worth a listen , well presented and engaging, perhaps checking pronunciation of place names would be beneficial
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- Anonymous User
- 13-02-2024
Fitzsimons' portrayal of the basic, honest, undeniable goodness of those brave and passionate men.
Disliked nothing. Loved the suspense, loved the fellowship of men equal in their beliefs and equal in their bravery.
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- Paulo D
- 28-12-2023
The British education system never taught us this in school
Amazing history of Australia that was never mentioned in our Australian history classes as it was so embarrassing for the British. Being of Irish ancestry myself I never knew how long and deadly a struggle the Irish Republic has had against the Brits.
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- V
- 09-12-2023
A fascinating yarn of a little know epic gaol breakout.
At the centre of this story is the Irish resistance. An endurance of bloody determination. A British Empire which seeks to conquer all vestiges of Irish dreams for independence. Banishment to a remote colony is seen as an alternative to martyrdom of execution. American support is crucial to this struggle. This Peter FitzSimons storytelling is expertly narrated. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
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