by Simon Cleary
This is a work of fiction. Any similarities between the characters and events in this book, and the lives of soldiers posted to Afghanistan since the war started in that country in 2001, is coincidental. A number of accounts of the experience of that war have, however, informed this work, including interviews with soldiers, both serving and retired. I am indebted to them for sharing their stories so freely, and often courageously. Among the written accounts I am indebted to are John Cantwell’s Exit Wounds, Mark Donaldson’s The Crossroad, Chris Masters’ Uncommon Soldier, James Prascevic’s Returned Soldier and Gary Ramage and Ian McPhedran’s Afghanistan: Australia’s War. More generally, Lieutenant Colonel Dave Grossman’s On Killing, and Jonathan Shay’s Odysseus in America were valuable resources.
The epigraph is from Robert Fagles’ translation of The Odyssey, Book 8, lines 99–103. The line on page 60 is adapted from a line in the W. Marsden, T. Wright and Peter Harris translation of The Travels of Marco Polo: The Venetian. The extract from Marcus Aurelius’ Meditations on page 96 is from Martin Hammond’s translation. The first two lines on page 305 are adapted from Anna Akhmatova’s Requiem translated by Stanley Kunitz.
This book is the product of the great generosity of many people who have shared expertise, read the book in manuscript form, and offered encouragement or direction. My very deep gratitude to: Hamish Ashman, Laura Bridger, Desley Campbell-Stewart, Alisa Cleary, Rachel Cleary, Stuart Crozier, Mick Donaldson, Robert Ferris, Steve Foley, Rodney Hall, Patrick Hamilton, Tatiana Hamilton, Matthew Horan, Georgina Isbell, Peter Jensen, Krissy Kneen, Quentin Masson, Audie Moldre, Gwenn Murray, Jo Rennick, Scott Seefeld, Max Walters, Tony Woodyatt, Samay Zhouand and Zmarak Zhouand. I want to especially thank Nicole Brosing for being my tattooing guide and unreservedly welcoming me into her studio to watch and learn a little about the art of tattooing.
To the dedicated folk at the Gallipoli Medical Research Foundation and the Keith Payne Unit at Greenslopes Hospital who seek to understand and tend the wounds of war: my respect and gratitude, and in particular to Miriam Dwyer, Madeline Romaniuk and Trish Mossop.
At UQP Madonna Duffy is a publisher extraordinaire who I want to especially acknowledge and thank. Indeed the entire team at UQP has been magnificent. This book has benefited greatly from the wisdom, experience and fine editorial eyes of Julia Stiles, Christina Pagliaro and Jacqueline Blanchard: thank you.
Finally, thanks to Alisa, Dominic and Liam for the greatest of support.
First published in 2019 by University of Queensland Press
PO Box 6042, St Lucia, Queensland 4067 Australia
uqp.com.au
[email protected]
Copyright © Simon Cleary 2019
The moral rights of the author have been asserted.
This book is copyright. Except for private study, research, criticism or reviews, as permitted under the Copyright Act, no part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means without prior written permission. Enquiries should be made to the publisher.
Cover design by Christabella Designs
Cover artwork by Allison Kittredge // squidinkedstudio.com
Author photo by Patrick Hamilton
Typeset in 11.5/16 pt Garamond by Post Pre-press Group, Brisbane
The University of Queensland Press is supported by the Queensland Government through Arts Queensland.
The University of Queensland Press is assisted by the Australian Government through the Australia Council, its arts funding and advisory body.
A catalogue record for this book is available from the National Library of Australia.
ISBN 978 0 7022 6034 6 (pbk)
ISBN 978 0 7022 6192 3 (pdf)
ISBN 978 0 7022 6193 0 (epub)
ISBN 978 0 7022 6194 7 (kindle)