Tall Ships and Tall Tales: A Life of Dancing with History

(Paperback)

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Over the last 40 years, Jonathan King has brought history to life, re-enacting events such as the First Fleet's voyage across the high seas to Botany Bay, the mutiny against ship's captain William Bligh on the Bounty, Matthew Flinders' troubled circumnavigation of Terra Australia, Ernest Shackleton's death-defying dash across the icy waters of the Antarctic Ocean, and Marco Polo's passage from China. Along the way, King has encountered a cast of mavericks, rogues, entrepreneurs, dignitaries, and politicians - a veritable who's who of Australia and beyond. These include bushman R. M. Williams, singers Slim Dusty and Helen Reddy, actor Jack Thompson, media magnate Rupert Murdoch, great train robber Ronnie Biggs, explorer Edmund Hillary, boxer Muhammad Ali, Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat, rock star Sting - and even Queen Elizabeth 11. So join this bestselling author and historian as he recounts his spectacular adventures- jackarooing on outback stations; trekking the Amazon to meet a remote tribe; sailing the perilous waters of the Atlantic; riding a traditional junk in the South China Sea; being detained by Spanish border guards; and becoming caught in an Antarctic hurricane, just metres from reaching Shackleton's grave. These extraordinary tales will leave you breathless, dazzled, and inspired by King's persistence and sheer courage in bringing history to life. 'Jonathan King has long been a leader in resurrecting Australian history and breathing new life into it.' Geoffrey Blainey 'As a fellow jackaroo, I recommend you give King a hearing. These are good yarns.' Jack Thompson

Reviews

"A ripping yarn about a lifetime of ripping adventures."
--Saturday Age, Sydney Morning Herald, Canberra Times

"Now my mate has reached the grand old age of 70, he feels it is time to return to that campfire of old, pull up a few logs, and ask you all to sit down so he can spin a few yarns, tall tales included. As a fellow jackaroo, I recommend you give him a hearing. These are pretty good yarns."
--Jack Thompson

"Jonathan King has long been a leader in resurrecting Australian history and breathing new life into it."
--Geoffrey Blainey

"This is fantastic story from an incredible Australian. Jonathan King, a descendant of Philip Gidley King, is one of the last true eccentric Aussie "ratbags"--and we need more of them! Read the behind the scenes story of the First Fleet Re-enactment Expedition and how Jonathan's dream became a reality--despite a campaign from the hardened bureaucrats to stop it. A wonderful autobiography and a must read for everyone who loves Australia."
--Dick Smith

Author Bio

Jonathan King is an award-winning author of Australian history. He has written 30 books and been published widely in newspapers and magazines, as well as producing and presenting numerous film documentaries, and TV and radio programs. n 1988 he was presented with Australian of the Year Award (Victorian division) and in 1989 the Australian Achiever Award. King helped to organise the first national summit of the Australian Conservation Foundation, and has worked for the UN's Environment Programme, and as director of the Rainforest Foundation.