Oceania Books

This book belongs in any library of books on World War II.

At the beginning of World War II the Australians sent the cream of their army to fight in North Africa. And they did a supurb job there. The stories of Montgomery's success over Rommel is filled with the Australians did this, and the Australians did that.

But then came Pearl Harbor and the Japanese expansion to the south and east. The Japanese expanded to the Solomons in the east. To the south the Japanese landed on and controlled the northern coast of the island of Papua New Guinea. Their intent was to have their army march southward to meet a naval force going around the island. From there was the possibility of invading Australia.

To the east the Americans drew the line by establishing a series of bases in the New Hebrides. First the American Navy fought a battle with this Japanese naval force, it is called the battle of the Coral Sea. Then the Americans invaded the Japanese conquered Solomon Islands to prevent the Japanese from building an air base at a place called Guadalcanal. The Japanese got no further east.

No less important, but almost unknown here in the United States was the fighting in The Australians held the southern. In between lay the Kododa trail. It was indeed a Bastard of a Place. It's still a bitch of a place just to walk it without being burdened with equipment and someone trying to kill you.

The Australians wanted their army back from North Africa, the British said "No." So the Australians had to fight the battle with militia and conscripts. They did, and they won. They pushed the Japanese back to the northern coast and with a series of other battles kicked them off of the island completely. From here the march northward began.

During this time Dougout Doug MacAuthor was in Australia issuing press releases about how great he was doing. There was almost nothing in the American press about the Kokoda trail.

This book, written in Australia, is very well researched and very well written. It deserves wide distribution in the US to bring an understanding that the entire Pacific was wasn't won entirely by the U.S. Marines.

"Few Australians have heard of Gona, Buna and Sanananda - or for that matter Milne Bay. In commemorating the Papuan campaign we have, as a nation, got lost on the Kokoda trail" - Peter Brune.

I have never read a book that focuses completely on the Australian campaign in Papua (or part thereof) before, but only works that include the campaign as part of a more broad assessment of the whole South West Pacific Theatre of Operations. That said, I think it would be hard to find a better book on the Papuan campaign than Peter Brune's `A Bastard of a Place'.

The premise of Brune's book is that... "Kokoda's glory constitutes but one-fifth of the Australian legend of Papua during 1942. It is an integral part of that legend, but not its whole.

"...also, it is the sad saga of a nation still ignorant of this great Australian legend, still largely unaware of the feats of some of its most deserving military commanders and the soldiers they served. In some measure, regrettably, it is the story of others who have been accorded undue praise."

First and foremost in Brune's assessment of those who have received undue praise are Generals Douglas Macarthur and Thomas Blamey. Brune is scathing in his criticism of Macarthur's role as Supreme Allied commander in the South-West Pacific.

In Brune's assessment, Macarthur firstly was ignorant of the potential impact of a Japanese incursion into Papua and eventually was focused purely on achieving a quick land victory before his rival Admiral Nimitz could achieve a land victory on Guadalcanal in the neighbouring South Pacific Theatre of Operations, thus winning for himself the confidence of General George Marshall and the US Joint Chiefs and a greater share of US resources in the Pacific.

Macarthur's failure to understand the terrain and constraints in which the 2nd AIF's 7th Division and the AMF Militia Brigades in Papua faced, and the pressure he placed on Australian commanders in the field to achieve a quick victory, led to the unnecessary deaths of thousands of Australian soldiers in `Flanders-style' infantry assaults on heavily fortified and defended Japanese positions during the `Battle of the Beachhead' (Gona, Buna and Sanananda).

Blamey and a number of senior Australian commanders are willing accomplices in this process. While Brune acknowledges Blamey's successes as a leader and commander during World War One and in the Middle East in 1940-42, (as well as his many personal deficiencies), Papua is definitely the low point of Blamey's career and a period for which Brune finds little excuse - his notorious Koitaki address adding insult to the injury of the disloyalty he showed to senior Australian commanders in New Guinea including MAJ GEN Arthur `Tubby' Allen, MAJ GEN Cyril Clowes and BRIG Arnold Potts.

Potts is singled out as the unsung hero of the fighting withdrawal from Kokoda, beloved by the troops who served under him, `Pottsy' was sacrificed by Blamey on Macarthur's alter. MAG GEN Cyril Clowes, the victor of Milne Bay, is also singled out as a great unsung hero of the Papuan campaign, and yet another victim of Blamey's betrayal of his commanders.

But while the story of the commanders, both the heroes and the villains, is an important part of this book, it is by no means the focus.

Brune's work is meticulously researched - and much of the material he draws on is from the countless interviews and correspondence he has personally had with hundreds of veterans of the Papuan campaign over the last 15 years from Privates to senior officers. Along with the diaries and letters of the time, they paint a vivid and terrifying picture of what happened between July 1942 and January 1943.

It is these voices, of the men who fought the Japanese as well as the jungle, the swamps, the mountains, the disease and the climate who are the heart of this book and help to make it a definitive account, and Brune the definitive authority, on the Papuan Campaign.

The work, influence and legacy of wartime journalists and photographers like Chester Wilmot, Osmar White, Damien Parer and George Silk are also examined at some length in the book, (as well as the challenges they faced getting their work to the outside world), and some of the book's most interesting passages include the stories behind some Silk's incredible photos of the fighting at Buna, (unfortunately only a few of which are reproduced in the book).

One down side to the book are the maps. They aren't nearly detailed enough and given the detail which Brune goes into about the different phases of each battle, the maps are inadequate and horrendously over-simplified. As so much of the Papuan campaign hinged on the impact of the terrain contested, it seems a shame not to do that terrain more justice.

I also feel that while Brune justifiably seeks to address the glaring deficiencies in some of the official US accounts of the campaign, he goes a little too far with some of the swipes he makes at the Americans.

I would also have liked to see more about the Japanese side of the story. His excellent chapters on the Battle for Milne Bay included some diary extracts from some of the Japanese `marines' with the Naval Landing units which provide a fascinating insight into their perceptions of the Australians they were fighting. How we are viewed by an enemy will always shed some interesting light on how we view ourselves. It would also have been great to learn a little bit more about Major General Tomitaro Horii, who commanded the Japanese Forces during the Kokoda fighting and later died during the Japanese retreat - his background, personality, strategic grasp etc...

As far as I'm concerned, Brune has achieved his objective with `A Bastard of a Place'. Kokoda justifiably holds a high place in the Australian psyche, but it is not fully appreciated until it is understood within the broader Papuan campaign - and the battles at Gona, Buna, Sanananda, and particularly Milne Bay are just as much a part of the legend.

This is a great book for those that like hiking aka boonie stomping. We currently live in Guam and have done several hikes so far and plan to do many more. Be aware though the grass is over grown and your going to get dirty! We take our small children and they have a blast.

The man is a legend on Guam - he is "The Ultimate Paramount Boonie Stomping Leader of all time".

If you are planning a trip to Guam, get this book! We lived there for three years and the guide is the bible of Boonie Stomping. Five star rating...

For those who like to get out and see their surroundings, this book is ideal. Dave describes how to get to pretty much everything worth seeing on Guam. Be forewarned though, this book isn't for sissies looking for easily accessible locations. Each hike or 'trek' is rated by level of difficulty, with the most difficult be exactly that. Just because the author managed to get there, don't assume you can. The pictures are great and nicely depict each hike. Some instructions are vague, but if you do the hike, you will understand why. Guam is jungle and sometimes there just aren't any good landmarks. Included GPS coordinates are usefull for those who truly prepared. This book is a must for the outdoors type who visit Guam.

The book really presents an australia not as we know it, but one off a great divide between a strong patriotic belief, and then one of digust and resentment for the war. Never the less in the early years of the war this patroitic fever griped the hearts of many australian men, and there was great exitment and need for one to stand up and defend his infant australia, hirtho not yet recongnised as a real or threatning force to the germans or her allies. Many of these young men felt that it was not off choice to enlist but of civil duty, and in alliance to the throne and empire of england. But as the casualities of Gallipoli reched the shores of Australia and dark and realistic shadow was cast over the hearts and minds off all australians. The fantasy of war being glorious and adventrous, came to a grinding hault, the harsh reality had struck. The divide in the country had become stronger and unenlisted eliglbles were outcast from soicety, every consievalble tactic was used to encourage these men to enlist. The country was closer than every to tryanny,and there were two referendims to allow consrcriptions to be allowed.

Bill resonstructs with great sensitivity the valour and the tragedy off war. through this he shows us why the Great War was th have profound effects of the attitudes and ideals of Australians as a nation.

Australia at the time was a young enthusiastic country just wanting to be accepted in the empire and a lot of young people (about 1/2 of all young males)went away to prove themselves and were butchered - literally. Wars like these were common in the 'old world' but australlia, the land of the great social experiment was in every sense just a young child - the photo on the cover demonstrates that perfectly - a fresh faced young boy so young and whos mother would have been so proud, but so many of these people are now rotting in a strange country, no gum trees no nothing. Read the part about battle at Nek to find out what I mean - blood on the wattle means something to a lot of Australians and this is why - innocence lost but they kept on going - The best army since Genghis Khan. The diaries are so sad lost love and lost life. Literally peoples last words on this earth are noted in some of those diary extracts. the human condition at its most extreme. These days a lot of young Australians looking for role models are looking at the ANZAC tradition. These people were in every sense of the word 'superhuman' they did twice the work with half of the manpower and that's why they are still regarded so highly in france 80 years later.

I know this isn't really a book review but when i read the broken years it made me that emotional that i just want to say how it affects Australians. Others should read it too it's historical and its personal some times really personal. Some of these old guys would never say what when on in the great war but this is an insight into the rare archives which do exist. How exciting it all seemed at first then at one instant at Gallipoli realisation came, the blood shed, people told to run at machine guns, horses wailing, mateship Always remember that Australia was just little child when it entered the most gross expression of the human condition that I know of

This is a thoughtful, insightful look at the initial contacts between Australia's indigenous people and members of the First Fleet in 1788. There is an intense curiosity, both within this book and in the snippets of evidence from the primary documents Ms Clendinnen refers to, about the meanings of the human interactions observed. Reading through the snippets from Watkin Tench, David Collins, William Bradley and others offers insights into the impacts of foreign cultures on each other.

`Our first shared Australian story is a tragedy of animated imagination, determined friendship and painfully dying hopes.'

One of the tragedies is in the way we view history. Written records, with their framework of events and theories of causation speak for themselves in ways that oral traditions, especially by those dispossessed, often cannot.

At the end of her book, Ms Clendinnen writes: `Here in this place, I think, we are all Australians now.' I am not sure that we are there yet, but there is renewed hope that we can be.

This book is well worth reading for its insights into those initial contacts.

Jennifer Cameron-Smith

Inga Clendinnen, one of Australia's most influential historians has written a gripping account of the relationship between the members of the First Fleet and the local "Australians" (as Clendinnen calls the aborigines). She uses the old reports and journals of the crew as source material. The result is a surprising peek at what really went on in those first 5 years, how Governor Arthur Phillip worked to establish friendly contacts, the clash of cultures so different from each other, and what happened to his efforts. Clendinnon is not as academic as she has been with prior works, but neither is this a beach read. It's a serious history book of real merit which also happens to be very well written.

A photo essay journey across Australia focuses on some of the "world's weirdest and most wonderful" animals. Sharp, lovely color photos are clearly labelled. There is brief information on each creature. Two pages at the end give a background of the country itself.

This is a wonderful book! The text leads us on a journey from early morning (before sunrise) through the night, traveling throughout Australia. Stunning photographs with bright colors, show the animals and sea life of Australia. The entire focus is on animals and sea creatures. The storyline is captivating and interesting. My children loved the text, which held their interest completely, and the supporting photographs. An example of the creative text is this line "Suddenly, a sea eagle explodes on the scene, dive-bombing before you."

A great read and a different style of introduction to the wildlife of Australia than most other nonfiction books about this subject!

Think of this book as a "Catch-22" for the Navy at the tail end of World War II. In fact, near the end of the book some of the officers have an interesting discussion regarding the bomb and its effect on the war, and the world, but let me warn you, the outcome might not be what one might expect. This book has all the colorful characters and oddball situations - my favorite being the daily delivery of the photo opportunity pictures to visiting politicians. There are some deeper tones here, and the humanity is never forgotten. I recommend this book to anyone who wants, and can appreciate, the snapshot of history from the inside, albeit at times with tongue planted firmly in cheek but never forgetting there is a bigger purpose.

Well, I did read this book repeatedly in the late 50's and early 60's, so I cannot in good conscience rate it lower than 4 stars. It is a moderately entertaining, and by now quaintly old-fashioned, story of some admen pressed into U. S. Navy Public Relations service in the Pacific. While everyone else fought the Axis, they fought the Air Force for their fair share of public recognition. The funniest bit is where the PR guys launch a "Typical Young Navy Man" campaign and select their candidate sight unseen, merely because his name contains two famous naval historical figures--Farragut and (John Paul) Jones. When he comes ashore for briefing, he proves slovenly, foul-mouthed, and all but intractable. The movie version memorably bleeped out his every use of the f-word with a ship's horn that sounded every bit as foul as what it was masking!

...Esta publicación es definitivamente la mejor opción para tener una visión general de la isla. Contiene hermosas fotos de la isla y sus habitantes, así como un excelente texto escrito por un arqueólogo, quien fue Director del Parque Nacional Rapa-Nui. En resumen un trabajo serio, completo y artísticamente hermoso

An excellent addition to the Rapa Nui library, with glorious color plates showing every aspect of the island. So many Easter Island books focus wholly on Easter Island's past, and the moai statues. This one includes excellent aerial views of the whole island and island life as well as its archeological splendors. A few too many of those pretty girls than can really be justified though, Carlos!

bought this when we returned from visiting edinburgh. realized i had never actually read robert louis stevenson. only had seen movies of his work. so was great to find out more about a city we loved visiting, and great to experience reading his writing. found out why his works are classics - he's a really good writer! made me want to read more of his work.

Edinburgh: Picturesque Notes is a vividly written piece which could easily have been featured in our travel section but is presented here for its literary value as a passionate survey of famed British novelist Robert Louis Stevenson's birthplace. His notes include history and social insights as well as commentary and bring Edinburgh alive.

I agree with Gerardo... This book will give you unvarnished observations from new visitors to the south east Pacific immediately after WWI. The descrptions of Hall's visit to the Paumotus (Tuamotus) are really priceless today, as is his account of Hotel Tiare and Lavaina, before her death. If you enjoy this, then see if you can get a copy of My Island Home. The island parts are very good (especially Singh, A Song of Six Pence). Also read The Forgotten One, and Other Stories, a darker look at the affects and outcomes of caucasians in the islands.

In this book, the authors make what seems to be an autobiographical account of a year of traveling and adventure throughout the South Seas. They decide to travel in different directions and meet again after a few months. They write in turn about their own experiences and stories as narrated to them by other characters, covering a wide range of stories, from the mere description of island's habits, to beautiful native stories, to what must be the most thrilling and yet poetic treasure hunt I have read. Possibly a slightly minor work from this authors, better known for the Bounty books. Yet, if you like the mystery of the South Seas a little more than its adventure, add that fifth star to my rating. Please bear in mind my comments are based on a first edition of this book, dated 1921, which I own. I write the review in the hope that it will be useful since there is none to date, but I have not actually read this new edition.

This well-organized book breaks down places to see in Australia by thier states. The sixteen Best of Australia lists; descriptive reviews of hotels and suggested itineraries; and 'Fun Facts' such as where to cuddle a koala are interesting to note. I am already planning to go back for a second visit because I cannot see it all in two weeks.

I have been using Frommers for many years. So naturally I chose this book to prepare for our first trip to Australia. It is the only guide book that you will need, though you might want to pick up a free AAA guide after you arrive if you need hotel info as Frommers can't cover every property.

This book will provide basic info on all the major sites. In addition, you will find a great deal of info on smaller towns that you may visit if you decide to do any driving. It was invaluable for providing info on the fly.

If you buy one guidebook, this one should be it.