Heroic Australian Women of War - Softcover

De Vries Susanna

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0732276691 ISBN 13: 9780732276690

Publisher: Harper Collins, 2004

Synopsis

A riveting new work from Susanna de Vries continuing astonishing stories of female bravery from Gallipoli to Kokoda. The brave deeds of women in war have long been overshadowed by male heroics. In this inspiring new book, renowned writer and historian Susanna de Vries profiles the grit, determination and selflessness of 11 outstanding Australian women serving in two World Wars: from Olive King, volunteer ambulance driver who saved countless lives in France and Serbia during World War I, to Vivian Bullwinkel, Joyce Twedell and Sylvia Muir, all three of whom endured years of starvation and cruelty on Bangka Island at the hands of their Japanese captors. Other women featured include Sister Alice Kitchen, Dr Agnes Bennett, Dr Lilian Cooper, Louise Mack, Joice Nankivell Loch, Mavis Parkinson and Sister May Hayman. These are all women who deserve to be known, recognised and celebrated alongside their male peers. In her informal, vivid style, de Vries focuses not only on the astounding courage these women displayed in battle, but also on their personal struggles and accomplishments - proving that they were each as influential and heroic in life as they were in war.

About this title

About the Author:

Susanna de Vries is an international author and former lecturer at the Queensland University of Technology. She writes full-time but also lectures to branches of the Australian Fine and Decorative Art Society. She speaks fluent Spanish and French and has lived and worked in London, Edinburgh, Berlin, Florence, Barcelona and Sydney but now lives in Brisbane and has nine grandchildren. Susanna's fourteen books have won her literary awards in Ireland and Britain, an Order of Australia for services to literature and a Winston Churchill Fellowship.

From AudioFile:

The role of women in the twentieth century's two world wars is not well known, and de Vries undertakes to tell part of the story through a group of Australian woman who went to great lengths to contribute to the war effort, at great risk to their lives and well-being. Beverley Dunn is a no-nonsense narrator. Overall, she puts forward an attitude of fortitude and conviction in the various accounts--and reveals glimpses of vulnerability and discouragement in some of the excerpts of letters and diaries that are sprinkled throughout. Dunn portrays these historic figures as ordinary woman who faced extraordinary circumstances with courage and strength of character. J.E.M. © AudioFile 2009, Portland, Maine

About this edition

• Publisher: Harper Collins
• Publication date: 2004
• ISBN 10: 0732276691
• ISBN 13: 9780732276690
• Binding: Paperback