On Dangerous Ground: A Gallipoli Story

by Bruce Scates

It is 1915, during World War I at Gallipoli, and Lt. Roy Irwin is missing. The young woman who loves him, and the men who fought beside him, begin their search for Lt. Irwin. Later, in 1919, historian C.E.W. Bean returns to Anzac Cove with artist George Lambert and soldier Harry Vickers to solve the greatest mystery of the campaign, to discover Gallipoli's secret. Forward to 2015, and Dr. Mark Troy's quest to preserve the peninsula from roadworks is sidetracked by political intervention and diplomatic intrigue. But a flirtation with a dynamic young woman from Army Intelligence uncovers long-forgotten documents protecting Gallipoli's graves. In this eagerly awaited book, one of Australia's leading historians uses a playful hybrid of history and fiction - moving between the historical realm and the world of the imagination - to recreate the most dramatic moments of the Gallipoli campaign in World War I. Incorporating war, love interest, action, intrigue, art, and the exotic, On Dangerous Ground is fast-paced, accurate, and thrilling, retelling of one of the weightiest moments of the 20th century. Including a selection of paintings by Australian artist George Lambert, this great Australian/Gallipoli novel will appeal to a wide readership interested in history and action novels. *** "A unique look at Gallipoli in all its tragedy, calamity and complexity. An eloquent and pacy narrative that will engross all readers who have any interest in this myth-founding event." - Tom Keneally, author of "Schindler's List" and the biography "Abraham Lincoln"

Genres: Historical Fiction

272 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 2012

Reviews

[Peter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sub-titled, A Novel of Gallipoli, this has three strands; a “love story” of a nurse and a young lieutenant who dies on the peninsula, secondly, Charles Bean revisiting in 1919 and, finally, a young history lecturer on a government committee discussing a new road and soldiers’ graves in 2015. The horrors of battle (at Quinn’s Post particularly) and the impact on Bean and a Turkish counterpart are superbly rendered along with a few digs at bureaucrats and archivists from the history professor/author. Poignant, evocative and gripping!

[Shaun Major · Rating 4 out of 5]

Perhaps too earnest at times, it wears its heart in its sleeve & is an important reminder of the promise we made to the boys who did not come home & the families who would never see their lived ones or even their graves.

[Sandro · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have read "At War", based on the Flemish documentary and this describes Anzac-day. But this book takes a very "personal" storyline and looks at it from different POV's. I think I now can understand a little of the meaning of Galipolli for Australia and New Zealand.

[David McLean · Rating 3 out of 5]

Detailed and a wonderful approach to an ageless story.