by Peter Watt
‘Your description of the jungle and the privations suffered by the soldiers in New Guinea was brilliant. It reminded me of the few, and rare, times my father spoke of his time at Milne Bay during that period of the war. I have to admit, I had tears in my eyes when you referenced the airfield in Milne Bay, with the fighters taking off under withering fire.’
‘Thanks for writing such books, mate. They mean a lot to people such as myself. My father would have loved to have read it, I’m sure. It’s a shame he’s not around anymore. After reading your book, who knows - he may have opened up even more.’
‘I must say how much I enjoy your terrific books set in the colonial era. I find however that my dictionary is totally inadequate in expressing my full appreciation and wonder at your skills in capturing and presenting the atmosphere of life in those historic times. I would love to be able to read more of your amazing literature, as would the legion of fans you have here.’ (UK reader)
‘I am just writing to let you know that I don’t do reading. However, I have just read the entire Frontier series in three weeks. Thank you very bloody much! The lawn looks like a jungle, my swing has gotten worse and my beloved Wallabies still can’t beat the All Blacks! All this I place squarely at your feet you cad. Did I mention that I don’t like to read! You even have me writing to an author! Many thanks. Keep up the good work, just hurry.’
‘I have just finished reading War Clouds Gather. Like all your yarns (and I have now read them all so far) it is a cracking read and the Duffys and Macintoshes now seem like part of the family.’
‘I am an avid reader of good historical and fictional novels. Peter has the ability to combine both of these concepts in a very rare way. He can transport the reader to the time and place where events are in process. That takes talent. We are indeed very fortunate to have a world class writer of Peter’s calibre in Australia.’
This is a work of fiction. Characters, institutions and organisations mentioned in this novel are either the product of the author’s imagination or, if real, used fictitiously without any intent to describe actual conduct.
First published 2015 in Macmillan by Pan Macmillan Australia Pty Ltd
1 Market Street, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, 2000
Copyright © Peter Watt 2015
The moral right of the author has been asserted.
All rights reserved. This publication (or any part of it) may not be reproduced or transmitted, copied, stored, distributed or otherwise made available by any person or entity (including Google, Amazon or similar organisations), in any form (electronic, digital, optical, mechanical) or by any means (photocopying, recording, scanning or otherwise) without prior written permission from the publisher.
This ebook may not include illustrations and/or photographs that may have been in the print edition.
Cataloguing-in-Publication entry is available
from the National Library of Australia
http://catalogue.nla.gov.au
EPUB format: 9781743548219
Typeset by Post Pre-press Group
Cover design: Deborah Parry Graphics
Cover images: Corbis, Getty Images and AWM 068936/Australian War Memorial
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