A Tragedy in Two Acts - Marcus Einfeld and Teresa Brennan

by Fiona Harari

Marcus Einfeld, former Federal Court judge and human rights champion, and his old friend Teresa Brennan, and exuberant, US-based Australian academic, had spent years building careers that exuded success. The truth of their lives was much more complicated.

Genres: Nonfiction, Crime, Biography

226 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 2011

Reviews

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a very readable pot boiler about a momentary entwinement of two lives: retired Australian federal court, Marcus Einfeld and Teresa Brenna, an Australian feminist scholar. Both are portrayed as grandiose, deluded and yet charismatic. The story is fascinating, but you don't get much insight into these flawed characters, the writing is quite journalistic and riddled with cliches.

[Ross · Rating 4 out of 5]

A sad and sensitively told story of self delusion, human weakness, human frailty and human fragility. A tale of two complex, talented and flawed people, bound together for posterity by a lie.

[Nigel Meinrath · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting insight into the lives of two flawed characters..

[Malcolm Frawley · Rating 4 out of 5]

I remember the ignominious fall from grace of Justice Marcus Einfeld after he appeared in court to defend a speeding charge by declaring that a friend had been driving his car on the day of the transgression; a friend who had inconveniently died 3 years earlier. But this book expands what began with astonishing arrogance & stupidity into, as it states on the cover, heart-rending tragedy. It also provides biographies of the 2 principle characters, both fascinating in their own right. Humans really are strange, aren't they?

[Alison Petchell · Rating 1 out of 5]

No good. DNF

[Marj · Rating 4 out of 5]

excellent book which still left many questions.

[Nez · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars
Interesting read and two intriguing characters.