TRUE GIRT: THE UNAUTHORISED HISTORY OF AUSTRALIA

First there was Girt. Now comes … True Girt In this side-splitting sequel to his best-selling history, David Hunt transports us to the Australian frontier. This was the Wild South, home to hardy pioneers, gun-slinging bushrangers, directionally challenged explorers, nervous Indigenous people, Caroline Chisholm and sheep. Lots of sheep. True Girt introduces Thomas Davey, the hard-drinking Tasmanian governor who invented the Blow My Skull cocktail, and Captain Moonlite, Australia’s most notorious LGBTI bushranger. Meet William Nicholson, the Melbourne hipster who gave Australia the steam-powered coffee roaster and the world the secret ballot. And say hello to Harry, the first camel used in Australian exploration, who shot dead his owner, the adventurer John Horrocks. Learn how Truganini’s death inspired the Martian invasion of Earth. Discover the role of Hall and Oates in the Myall Creek Massacre. And be reminded why you should never ever smoke with the Wild Colonial Boy and Mad Dan Morgan. If Manning Clark and Bill Bryson were left on a desert island with only one pen, they would write True Girt. Shortlisted for the 2017 Russell Prize for Humour Writing and in the 2017 Australian Book Industry Awards Longlisted in the 2017 Indie Book Awards ‘An engaging, witty and utterly irreverent take on Australian history.’ —Graeme Simsion, author of The Rosie Project ‘Astounding, gruesome and frequently hilarious, True Girt is riveting from beginning to end.’ —Nick Earls ‘It is all as hilarious as the first book and delves into serious history, albeit in a not very serious manner.’ — Daily Telegraph ‘Another entertaining, opinionated and thought-provoking take on the great Australian story’ —Tom Gilling, The Weekend Australian