What do you think?
Rate this book
Surviving Maggie - An Australian Story
“After 40 years of bookselling, this book punched holes in me. Like Angela′s Ashes, no one who reads this story will ever forget it.” – Phil Ryan.
Seeing actor Geoffrey Rush play his father, Harold, in the Australian film Swimming Upstream, which was written and co-produced by his brother, was the catalyst for John Fingleton to uncover his father’s story. He discovered that Harold was regularly beaten by his drunken and abusive mother, Maggie, until he was removed to an orphanage.
From abused child to rebellious orphan, larrikin street fighter to gifted sportsman, prisoner to alcoholic and finally a man transformed by the love of a woman, Harold Fingleton′s story is heartbreaking and powerful.
Seeing actor Geoffrey Rush play his father, Harold, in the Australian film Swimming Upstream, which was written and co-produced by his brother, was the catalyst for John Fingleton to uncover his father’s story. He discovered that Harold was regularly beaten by his drunken and abusive mother, Maggie, until he was removed to an orphanage.
From abused child to rebellious orphan, larrikin street fighter to gifted sportsman, prisoner to alcoholic and finally a man transformed by the love of a woman, Harold Fingleton′s story is heartbreaking and powerful.
293 pages, Paperback
First published September 1, 2011
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
December 13, 2011
3.5 stars
How many of you remember the 2003 film Swimming Upstream starring Geoffrey Rush and Judy Davis? "Write your own book if you're not happy" challenged Tony Fingleton, author & film co- producer. This was John Fingleton's impetus for telling the untold story of his father Harold's early life, hopefully providing some counterbalance to Harold's portrayal in Swimming Upstream.
Harold Fingleton's childhood is a pitifully sad account; after years of abuse at the hands of his mother, Maggie, Harold is taken into state care at the age of ten where he endures further neglect, hunger, harsh discipline and abuse.
"Idle hands are the devil's tools" was a popular adage among the nuns.
My heart broke for Harold during his brief release from St Vincent Orphanage on Christmas Eve 1920; at 1am on Christmas morning his mother was arrested for drunkeness and foul language and sent to Boggo Road Gaol, dashing Harold's hopes of a 'family' Christmas and a new beginning. Elation quickly turned to resignation and bitterness as Harold was returned to the orphanage on Christmas day. He was released as a ward at the age of 14.
I was caught up in Surviving Maggie, not only in the emotion of Harold's dreadful childhood but being a local Brisbane-ite many of the locations and points of interest mentioned are familiar to me.
Surviving Maggie gives readers an understanding of how Harold's early life molded the man he became, you learn not only of his faults, flaws and weaknesses but of his strengths, loyalties and love. John doesn't excuse his father's behaviour but as the story moves into Harold's adult years much of the emotion seems to be lost in the somewhat stark recounting of facts and circumstances that shape the man. Despite his attempt to set the record straight on the previous one-sided depiction of Harold, John doesn't sugarcoat his father's alcoholism or the impact on his family.
Through police reports, government records, his Aunt Mollie, his mother Dora, family and friends, a son pieces together a harrowing story of the father he loved with all his heart.
How many of you remember the 2003 film Swimming Upstream starring Geoffrey Rush and Judy Davis? "Write your own book if you're not happy" challenged Tony Fingleton, author & film co- producer. This was John Fingleton's impetus for telling the untold story of his father Harold's early life, hopefully providing some counterbalance to Harold's portrayal in Swimming Upstream.
Harold Fingleton's childhood is a pitifully sad account; after years of abuse at the hands of his mother, Maggie, Harold is taken into state care at the age of ten where he endures further neglect, hunger, harsh discipline and abuse.
"Idle hands are the devil's tools" was a popular adage among the nuns.
My heart broke for Harold during his brief release from St Vincent Orphanage on Christmas Eve 1920; at 1am on Christmas morning his mother was arrested for drunkeness and foul language and sent to Boggo Road Gaol, dashing Harold's hopes of a 'family' Christmas and a new beginning. Elation quickly turned to resignation and bitterness as Harold was returned to the orphanage on Christmas day. He was released as a ward at the age of 14.
I was caught up in Surviving Maggie, not only in the emotion of Harold's dreadful childhood but being a local Brisbane-ite many of the locations and points of interest mentioned are familiar to me.
Surviving Maggie gives readers an understanding of how Harold's early life molded the man he became, you learn not only of his faults, flaws and weaknesses but of his strengths, loyalties and love. John doesn't excuse his father's behaviour but as the story moves into Harold's adult years much of the emotion seems to be lost in the somewhat stark recounting of facts and circumstances that shape the man. Despite his attempt to set the record straight on the previous one-sided depiction of Harold, John doesn't sugarcoat his father's alcoholism or the impact on his family.
Through police reports, government records, his Aunt Mollie, his mother Dora, family and friends, a son pieces together a harrowing story of the father he loved with all his heart.
September 27, 2013
A colouful character living a hardened life.
May 7, 2023
This is a heartbreaking biography of Harold Fingleton. I haven't yet watched Swimming Upstream but I feel that reading this book first will give me great insight into the depiction of Harold in the movie. What a sad life Harold had, with many of his poor choices made as a result of just trying to survive in a pretty cruel world. I enjoyed the local references and found myself looking up some of the addresses to see if the houses mentioned were still there, and they are. It's amazing to think that one of those small Queenslander houses used to host a whole rugby team on a weekly basis in their kitchen and back verandah.
August 17, 2019
A memoir in defence of the portrayal of Harold Fingleton in the movie "Swimming Upstream". It takes a book to do what a film cannot do. It's a gritty story about a boy growing up in Australia of the early 20th century with all the odds stacked against him, and his attempts, and failures, to overcome and survive. It's written with love and honesty by his son, John. Well written and accessible.
April 18, 2021
Amazing story of a terrible life for a child to be treated like he was from the person that is supposed to love you unconditionally
December 18, 2022
Sad true story April. 3.5
September 3, 2014
Surprisingly much much better than I expected. After watching 'Swimming Upstream' I was very hesitant on this book and didn't really know what I was in for. I was shocked to see how beautifully John Fingleton was able to write about his father's life and I truly enjoyed the text. The book was serious, yet still light hearted and John was able to throw about some humour here and there. A story about a true Australian, a survivor, a battler, who just keep on going and would stop at nothing for their family.
April 4, 2016
An enthralling heart-breaking biography of Harold Fingleton. It is easy to look back and see why people behave as they do.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews