Gallipoli

By: Peter FitzSimons

Narrated by: Robert Meldrum

On 25 April 1915, Allied forces landed on the Gallipoli Peninsula in present-day Turkey to secure the sea route between Britain and France in the west and Russia in the east. After eight months of terrible fighting, they would fail.

Turkey regards the victory to this day as a defining moment in its history, a heroic last stand in the defence of the nation's Ottoman Empire. But, counter-intuitively, it would signify something perhaps even greater for the defeated Australians and New Zealanders involved: the birth of their countries' sense of nationhood.

Now approaching its centenary, the Gallipoli campaign, commemorated each year on Anzac Day, reverberates with importance as the origin and symbol of Australian and New Zealand identity. As such, the facts of the battle – which was minor against the scale of the First World War and cost less than a sixth of the Australian deaths on the Western Front – are often forgotten or obscured. Peter FitzSimons, with his trademark vibrancy and expert melding of writing and research, recreates the disaster as experienced by those who endured it or perished in the attempt.

©2014 Peter FitzSimons (P)2014 Bolinda Publishing Pty Ltd

Fantastic book. Anzac

What a great story, but what a waste of life.
Stupid rule, that I had to use 15 caracters for a headline

brilliant and stirring

should be compulsory reading for all Australian children. i really enjoyed the book and while at first I was unsure of the narrator i really thought it was read really well. highly recommended.

My first audiobook experience

I've always struggled to finish books because I am a slow reader who tends to re-read the same paragraphs over and over again.

I could not have hoped for a better introduction to audiobooks, it truly was a great experience with the superb narration and amazing level of detail expertly told in a way that was not overwhelming and helped paint a very vivid image.

I thought I knew a fair bit about Gallipoli but Peter showed me that I had only scratched the surface. This should be compulsory for all Australians to listen to.

Brilliant

Just as all of his books are. I always love his story-telling. This one is up there with the best

Excellent highly readable narrative.

Relaxed, almost diary style with very personal focus on individual stories and a hell of a lot of Aussie spirit.

Phenomenal!

Expert means to convey an epic of history through first hand narratives. Performance, writing, and research were of the highest order.

Must read for every Anzac descendant

Peter makes history come to life in such a way that captures one from beginning to end.
Gallipoli is such a big part of every Kiwi or Aussies' upbringing and finally I now feel I understand what is behind it all.
Every young person should take the time to read or listen to this book.
Thanks Peter for bringing to life for me.

An excellent account!

Well, researched, well written. An in-depth look into the Gallipoli campaign, from the perspective of the Anzacs, Turks, as well as the British. I highly recommend it.

Terrific WWI Narrative

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Definitely! I know many who are greatly interested in WWI history, and this book is a comprehensive look at Gallipoli. In my part of the world, much is made of the Canadian involvement in WWI itself, but I had only heard of Gallipoli and Anzac Day from Australian novels that I have read.
The performance was also welcome. It was neither monotone nor over-dramatic, and I do hope to check out more from Mr. Meldrum.

Any additional comments?

Don't let the length of this book deter you! It is a highly compelling, well-rounded narrative, by turns personal and universal. Well worth the read!

A must read.

I laughed. I cried. Essential reading for any Australian on the futility and stupidity of the Gallipoli campaign.