Lest: The greatest myths of Australian war

(Paperback)

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From Simpsons donkey and the Emu War to Vietnam and Ben Roberts-Smith, Australian military history is full of events that didnt happen the way most people think they did. In his inimitable style, award-winning author Mark Dapin sets the record straight.

Australias war tales could be said to be the closest thing we have to sacred stories: ANZAC, Simpson and his donkey, Changi, the wronged diggers in Vietnam, Ben Roberts-Smith. Millions of dollars are spent enshrining these stories in the War Memorial in Canberra and the Australian National Memorial in France, amongst others.

But did what were celebrating actually happen

In this book, award-winning author and historian Mark Dapin shows that often the reality was completely different from the myth and that by celebrating the wrong people, we often forget about the real heroes. With deep research and a sharp wit, Lest reclaims the truth about our military history.

Author Bio

Mark Dapin is an acclaimed journalist, author, screenwriter and historian. He is the author of the novels King of the Cross, Spirit House and R&R. King of the Cross won the Ned Kelly Award for Best First Fiction, and Spirit House was longlisted for the Miles Franklin Literary Award, and shortlisted for the Age Book of the Year and the Royal Society for Literatures Ondaatje Prize. R&R was shortlisted for a Ned Kelly Award. Mark holds a doctorate in military history. His history book The Nashos War was shortlisted for the NSW Premiers Literary Award for Non-Fiction, and won the NIB Peoples Choice Award and an Alex Buzo Shortlist Award. He has also written three books of true crime: Public Enemies (shortlisted for a Ned Kelly Award), Prison Break and Carnage. He worked as consultant producer on Network Seven TV show Armed and Dangerous, and as screenwriter on Stans Wolf Creek 2. His website is at markdapin.com.