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Rose Boys
Alternate cover edition of ISBN 9781865086392
Rose Boys is the story of two brothers profoundly different, compellingly linked by blood ties, a famous sporting family and the terrible misfortune that befell one of them.
Robert Rose was an Australian Rules footballer and a cricketer who could have been one of the best of his generation. On St Valentine's Day 1974 all that changed when a terrible car accident left him a quadriplegic. Robert lived for another twenty-five years, totally dependent on others. His brother Peter followed a very different path, as a poet, a poet, publisher and leading Australian literary figure. This is Peter's tribute to his brother.
Rose Boys is the story of Robert's unaffected heroism, the limitless love of a mother and father, and the intimate world shared by two very different brothers. Above all, it is a family memoir of rare penetration and candour.
Rose Boys is the story of two brothers profoundly different, compellingly linked by blood ties, a famous sporting family and the terrible misfortune that befell one of them.
Robert Rose was an Australian Rules footballer and a cricketer who could have been one of the best of his generation. On St Valentine's Day 1974 all that changed when a terrible car accident left him a quadriplegic. Robert lived for another twenty-five years, totally dependent on others. His brother Peter followed a very different path, as a poet, a poet, publisher and leading Australian literary figure. This is Peter's tribute to his brother.
Rose Boys is the story of Robert's unaffected heroism, the limitless love of a mother and father, and the intimate world shared by two very different brothers. Above all, it is a family memoir of rare penetration and candour.
289 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2001
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
June 26, 2023
This is a beautiful, deeply moving and personal story about a family and their unconditional love and devotion, not only of Robert, but of each other.
July 19, 2013
There were parts of this book I could relate to very well, being the gay youngest son of a sports-mad family with my only alignment being a love of AFL. This is the touching story of the Rose clan, three generations of men who played for Collingwood, and the tragedy of the youngest when he becomes a quadriplegic after a devastating car crash. The strength of their family is revealed, and lovingly rendered through the eyes of Peter, who is going through some soul-searching of his own.
It's strange having just read this as our National Disability Insurance Scheme has just come into being, as I wonder how it could have positively affected the Rose family and made life more comfortable for their son Robert. He may have been a professional AFL player, and his father the president of Collingwood, but these were before the days of multi-million dollar contracts - when AFL was a passion rather than a business. They struggled financially as well as physically and emotionally.
Even if you aren't interested in AFL, this is still a compelling read about a family that can't fail to touch you.
It's strange having just read this as our National Disability Insurance Scheme has just come into being, as I wonder how it could have positively affected the Rose family and made life more comfortable for their son Robert. He may have been a professional AFL player, and his father the president of Collingwood, but these were before the days of multi-million dollar contracts - when AFL was a passion rather than a business. They struggled financially as well as physically and emotionally.
Even if you aren't interested in AFL, this is still a compelling read about a family that can't fail to touch you.
November 4, 2023
In 1974, at the age of 22, Robert Rose embodied an Australian dream – successful sportsman, great mate, husband and father, and fond of a ‘good time’. By contrast, his younger brother, Peter, was withdrawn, awkward and uncertain of himself. Then a car accident left Robert a quadriplegic.
In Rose Boys, Peter (who went on to become a highly regarded poet and editor) tells the story of Robert’s 25 years of living and dying following his accident.
Permeating the account is a Melbourne institution – the Collingwood Football Club. Peter provides an insider’s view of the club and the fierce (and sometimes ambivalent) passions it elicits. He writes also of Bob Rose, variously captain, coach and president of ‘The Club’, but most profoundly, father of the Rose boys.
At its heart, Rose Boys is a story of determined, tender and unwavering love between men.
A version of this review first appeared in Good Reading Magazine, October 2003.
In Rose Boys, Peter (who went on to become a highly regarded poet and editor) tells the story of Robert’s 25 years of living and dying following his accident.
Permeating the account is a Melbourne institution – the Collingwood Football Club. Peter provides an insider’s view of the club and the fierce (and sometimes ambivalent) passions it elicits. He writes also of Bob Rose, variously captain, coach and president of ‘The Club’, but most profoundly, father of the Rose boys.
At its heart, Rose Boys is a story of determined, tender and unwavering love between men.
A version of this review first appeared in Good Reading Magazine, October 2003.
August 15, 2025
A loving tribute to the author’s brother Robert Rose and to his parents Bob and Elsie. The Rose family’s unwavering love and commitment to their son and brother after he was left quadriplegic in the wake of a car accident, is both heartbreaking and inspiring.
Written with candour, humour and affection, the author offers real insight into the many struggles faced by his brother and the incredible strength of character he displayed to overcome them over the proceeding two decades.
Written with candour, humour and affection, the author offers real insight into the many struggles faced by his brother and the incredible strength of character he displayed to overcome them over the proceeding two decades.
September 29, 2024
Beautifully written. A moving account of lives lived so differently. Harsh and tragic realities so eloquently explained. A story of a family so brave loving and resilient.
February 28, 2021
Heartfelt tribute to Robert Rose from his brother Peter. A story of a family's love and devotion to a son cruelly fated to live life as a quadriplegic after a car accident in his early twenties, at the height of his sporting career.
October 10, 2023
By early 1974, Robert Rose was 22 and at the top of his game - brilliant at Aussie Rules footy (why wouldn’t he be, with Bob Rose - one of Collingwood's greatest players and coaches, and one of four brothers playing for the club), and cricket, recently married, but still a lovable larrikan that enjoyed time out with his mates. A car accident put paid to the sporting careers, leaving him a paraplegic, for his remaining 25 years.
His brother Peter, a teenager at the time of the accident, has written a deeply moving story of Robert's life since the accident, and the profound effects it had on his family.
It's not a tale of abject misery, as one might suppose, but rather a story of the immense love shared by his parents, and other members of the family, by friends and, in a manner, the public for Robert. It tracks the strength that Robert was able to draw on to create a life for himself after the accident, and ultimately, his despair and pain as his body succumbed to the injury, and the drugs that sustained him.
Football and Collingwood feature strongly in the book, but it's not a footy book. It's a story of life, love and devotion.
Powerful stuff.
Four stars
His brother Peter, a teenager at the time of the accident, has written a deeply moving story of Robert's life since the accident, and the profound effects it had on his family.
It's not a tale of abject misery, as one might suppose, but rather a story of the immense love shared by his parents, and other members of the family, by friends and, in a manner, the public for Robert. It tracks the strength that Robert was able to draw on to create a life for himself after the accident, and ultimately, his despair and pain as his body succumbed to the injury, and the drugs that sustained him.
Football and Collingwood feature strongly in the book, but it's not a footy book. It's a story of life, love and devotion.
Powerful stuff.
Four stars
December 27, 2012
Hall of fame Australian Rules footballer Bob Rose has two sons. One is supremely gifted at sport and is destined to follow in his father's footsteps before a car accident changes everybody's life forever. The other son is gay, in a time when the quintessential Australian male would scoff at such a thought. This is the story of a father's unconditional love.
August 10, 2016
I don't follow or necessarily appreciate AFL, and at times I felt like I was missing some of the DNA required to be truly absorbed by this book. But it's still a moving account of a family regathering from the shock of sudden disability.
November 6, 2016
An unbelievingly moving memoir
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews