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bristoni74's review
4.0
I would say the landing at Gallipoli on 25 April 1915 is probably the most famous and well-known military campaign in modern Australian and New Zealand history. It’s also many argue where the legend of the ANZACs with mateship, loyalty and nationalism began. My great-grandfather was only 16 when he went to the war. He wasn’t at Gallipoli travelling over in 1916 but despite the minimum age of 21 years old, many were young boys/men of only 16-19 years of age. It was sold to them as an adventure and a chance to “see the world”.
More than 8700 men died in the Gallipoli campaign and about 60,000 died by the war’s end in 1918 when the Australian population was less than 5 million at the time. Many towns lost an entire generation of young men, fighting for the “mother country” in a war that was 1000’s of kilometres away. I think that’s why this book’s ending is so heartbreaking and for me demonstrated the horror of young men and boys dying and the senselessness of it all.
There are many books about Gallipoli (fiction and non-fiction), but this novel is based on the screen play for the movie (released in 1981 and attributed as the role that propelled Mel Gibson into international stardom). The screen play was written by David Williamson based on a story developed by Peter Weir (the director) after visiting Gallipoli in 1976.
I thought this novel was excellent, and brought to life the innocence of Archie, only 18, and Jack who is 21. Both are from Western Australia and competitive runners. The author really captured time and place in a world before the Flying Doctors Services and Doctor’s were an 8 hour horse ride away for medical care. The heat and isolation was very vivid.
It is more than half-way through the novel before Jack and Archie are in Egypt and then Gallipoli and that meant as a reader you developed a closeness to these characters and their friendship. Also the other people who influenced Archie’s life as a child such as his Uncle Jack. A heartbreaking novel and movie which I dare anyone to close this book or finish the movie without a tear in their eye. My copy is very special as my late brother gave it to me as a present on my 15th birthday.
More than 8700 men died in the Gallipoli campaign and about 60,000 died by the war’s end in 1918 when the Australian population was less than 5 million at the time. Many towns lost an entire generation of young men, fighting for the “mother country” in a war that was 1000’s of kilometres away. I think that’s why this book’s ending is so heartbreaking and for me demonstrated the horror of young men and boys dying and the senselessness of it all.
There are many books about Gallipoli (fiction and non-fiction), but this novel is based on the screen play for the movie (released in 1981 and attributed as the role that propelled Mel Gibson into international stardom). The screen play was written by David Williamson based on a story developed by Peter Weir (the director) after visiting Gallipoli in 1976.
I thought this novel was excellent, and brought to life the innocence of Archie, only 18, and Jack who is 21. Both are from Western Australia and competitive runners. The author really captured time and place in a world before the Flying Doctors Services and Doctor’s were an 8 hour horse ride away for medical care. The heat and isolation was very vivid.
It is more than half-way through the novel before Jack and Archie are in Egypt and then Gallipoli and that meant as a reader you developed a closeness to these characters and their friendship. Also the other people who influenced Archie’s life as a child such as his Uncle Jack. A heartbreaking novel and movie which I dare anyone to close this book or finish the movie without a tear in their eye. My copy is very special as my late brother gave it to me as a present on my 15th birthday.
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