Breaker Morant

De: Peter FitzSimons

Narrado por: Cameron Goodall

The epic story of the Boer War and Harry 'Breaker' Morant: drover, horseman, bush poet - murderer or hero?

Most Australians have heard of the Boer War of 1899 to 1902 and of Harry 'Breaker' Morant, a figure who rivals Ned Kelly as an archetypal Australian folk hero. Born in England and emigrating to Queensland in 1883 in his early 20s, Morant was a charming but reckless man who established a reputation as a rider, polo player and writer. He submitted ballads to The Bulletin that were published under the name 'The Breaker' and counted Banjo Paterson as a friend. When appeals were made for horsemen to serve in the war in South Africa, Morant joined up, first with the South Australian Mounted Rifles and then with a South African irregular unit, the Bushveldt Carbineers.

In October 1901 Morant and two other Australians, Lieutenants Peter Handcock and George Witton, were arrested for the murder of Boer prisoners. Morant and Handcock were court-martialled and executed in February 1902 as the Boer War was in its closing stages, but the debate over their convictions continues to this day.

Does Breaker Morant deserve his iconic status? Who was Harry Morant? What events and passions led him to a conflict that was essentially an Imperial war, played out on a distant continent under a foreign flag? Was he a scapegoat for British war crimes or a criminal himself?

With his trademark brilliant command of story, Peter FitzSimons unravels the many myths and fictions that surround the life of Harry Morant. The truths FitzSimons uncovers about 'The Breaker' and the part he played in the Boer War are astonishing - and, in the hands of this master storyteller, make compelling listening.

©2020 Peter FitzSimons (P)2020 Hachette Australia Pty Ltd

Good but long

The first half was a little long and drawn out. Phenomonal performance, though. Very interesting (and true) story.

Give it a chance

I originally purchased this book but returned it after it initially failed to capture my interest. Then after considering the the author (whose books I thoroughly enjoy) and the great reviews, I decided to give it another chance. I’m glad I did! It eventually unfolded into a wonderful tale of history and brutal truth about a war a originally knew nothing about. Bravo Peter!!

Thanks Pete

One of my favorite parts is that Oden heard about the Breaker and went to South Africa to randevu where they faced down a notorious warlord. It surprised me that Lord Kitchener decided on suicide, even before the boat sank. Well this white monk is heading back to the crypts now, I want to hear a fiddle saw on some strings.

Horrors of war

The story is extraordinary. The narrator unmatched in talent and skill.
The brutality of war is astounding woven throughout this epic story.

Could have been a good book...

I was looking forwards to listening to this book as I am very familiar with the incident and the war in general. Sadly, as South African, I could not stomach the utterly horrendous South African/Afrikaans/Dutch accents the narrator insisted on using. Beyond, brutal, I could not get through the first two hours...