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Burke and Wills: The triumph and tragedy of Australia's most famous explorers
'They have left here today!' he calls to the others. When King puts his hand down above the ashes of the fire, it is to find it still hot. There is even a tiny flame flickering from the end of one log. They must have left just hours ago.
MELBOURNE, 20 AUGUST 1860. In an ambitious quest to be the first Europeans to cross the harsh Australian continent, the Victorian Exploring Expedition sets off, farewelled by 15,000 cheering well-wishers. Led by Robert O'Hara Burke, a brave man totally lacking in the bush skills necessary for his task; surveyor and meteorologist William Wills; and 17 others, the expedition took 20 tons of equipment carried on six wagons, 23 horses and 26 camels.
Almost immediately plagued by disputes and sackings, the expeditioners battled the extremes of the Australian landscape and weather: its deserts, the boggy mangrove swamps of the Gulf, the searing heat and flooding rains. Food ran short and, unable to live off the land, the men nevertheless mostly spurned the offers of help from the local Indigenous people.
In desperation, leaving the rest of the party at the expedition's depot on Coopers Creek, Burke, Wills and John King made a dash for the Gulf in December 1860. Bad luck and bad management would see them miss by just hours a rendezvous back at Coopers Creek, leaving them stranded in the wilderness with practically no supplies. Only King survived to tell the tale.
Yet, despite their tragic fates, the names of Burke and Wills have become synonymous with perseverance and bravery in the face of overwhelming odds. They live on in our nation's history - and their story remains immediate and compelling.
MELBOURNE, 20 AUGUST 1860. In an ambitious quest to be the first Europeans to cross the harsh Australian continent, the Victorian Exploring Expedition sets off, farewelled by 15,000 cheering well-wishers. Led by Robert O'Hara Burke, a brave man totally lacking in the bush skills necessary for his task; surveyor and meteorologist William Wills; and 17 others, the expedition took 20 tons of equipment carried on six wagons, 23 horses and 26 camels.
Almost immediately plagued by disputes and sackings, the expeditioners battled the extremes of the Australian landscape and weather: its deserts, the boggy mangrove swamps of the Gulf, the searing heat and flooding rains. Food ran short and, unable to live off the land, the men nevertheless mostly spurned the offers of help from the local Indigenous people.
In desperation, leaving the rest of the party at the expedition's depot on Coopers Creek, Burke, Wills and John King made a dash for the Gulf in December 1860. Bad luck and bad management would see them miss by just hours a rendezvous back at Coopers Creek, leaving them stranded in the wilderness with practically no supplies. Only King survived to tell the tale.
Yet, despite their tragic fates, the names of Burke and Wills have become synonymous with perseverance and bravery in the face of overwhelming odds. They live on in our nation's history - and their story remains immediate and compelling.
700 pages, Hardcover
First published October 31, 2017
170 people are currently reading
835 people want to read
About the author
Peter FitzSimons
85 books486 followersPeter FitzSimons is one of Australia’s most prominent and successful media and publishing identities. His busy professional life involves co-hosting the breakfast program on Sydney's Radio 2UE, writing weekly columns for the Sydney Morning Herald and Sun Herald newspapers, appearing on Foxtel's Back Page television show and, when time permits, authoring best-selling books. A correspondent for London's Daily Telegraph as well, he is also in high demand as a guest speaker and presenter
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 79 reviews
August 27, 2020
Disclaimer: I’m the great-granddaughter of William Wills’ niece. I loved this book so much! Like a pantomime, I wanted to shout back through time, “Take the lime juice with you!” and “No, idiots! Dig!” But really, it’s just sad. These were white men stomping through people’s backyards. They could have asked permission. They could have learned the language. They could have learned about bush food. They didn’t. And they died.
March 26, 2024
This book was helpful in telling an event in Australian history I was not aware of.
June 25, 2018
In an age of satellite communications, GPS, drones and hi-tech camping gear, it's hard to imagine what it must have been like to set off across unmapped Australia with none of those aids. Not that Burke and Wills and the dozens of people who originally made up their expedition team set off with nothing. Far from it - they were equipped by a committee, and had literally tons of equipment. Tragically, what Robert O'Hara Burke lacked was the leadership skills and bushman's knowledge required to get him and his party from Melbourne to the Gulf of Carpentaria and back.
Peter FitzSimons' book does a great job of showing that it wasn't just bad luck that left Burke and Wills stranded and starving to death at Coopers Creek. He follows the whole sorry process, from the first suggestion of an expedition to the final fabulous funeral held in Melbourne to honour Burke and Wills. He spares no-one, and omits no-one. The Indian and Afghan sepoys brought in to look after the camels, and the Aboriginal residents of the land Burke's party were crossing, are included as real and influential characters, not just adjuncts to the European explorers.
Fitzsimons writes in a chatty, rather irreverent style, and all in the present tense, which adds to the drama. The book, despite it's tragic subject, is entertaining as well as informative. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Peter FitzSimons' book does a great job of showing that it wasn't just bad luck that left Burke and Wills stranded and starving to death at Coopers Creek. He follows the whole sorry process, from the first suggestion of an expedition to the final fabulous funeral held in Melbourne to honour Burke and Wills. He spares no-one, and omits no-one. The Indian and Afghan sepoys brought in to look after the camels, and the Aboriginal residents of the land Burke's party were crossing, are included as real and influential characters, not just adjuncts to the European explorers.
Fitzsimons writes in a chatty, rather irreverent style, and all in the present tense, which adds to the drama. The book, despite it's tragic subject, is entertaining as well as informative. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
January 7, 2018
I completed all 623 pages of Peter Fitzsimons "Burke and Wills - the triumph and tragedy of Australia's most famous explorers" within five days. It was a marathon reading effort which befits the epic story of these courageous men. Peter Fitzsimons has written so many of these historic novels and he has a great ability to bring the history alive. It is a wonderful way to take in history and he has the ability to personalise the story placing the reader right in the moment. Because of that I could not put the book down, and all of this whilst there was an "Ashes" Test match between Australia and England on TV that I would normally have been watching every ball.
I have great confidence in Fitzsimons research. He had the support of four research people on this novel. The references and bibliography run for 54 pages. As a geologist that did a lot of field work over 12 years and worked the Cooper and Eromanga basin as a petroleum geologist for over twenty four years I understand the demands of the Australian bush and the Cooper Basin in particular. I am in awe of the courage of these men going into the unknown under great hardship.
This book should be on the essential reading list for our youth during their secondary school years. The Burke and Wills expedition is an important event in Australian history and should be given the respect it deserves. I admire the endeavour of people that conceive big dreams and get things done. That starts with those that have the dream, propose the task, plan how it might be achieved, promote it right down to those that implement. For every "doer" there is an army of critics that could have done it better. It is always the case. Fitzsimons covers each of these elements well. The maps, figures and sketches within the book allow the reader to follow the daily progress of the main expedition and all the other simultaneous activities of all the splinter parties. The title of the book is most appropriate, the triumph of the inexperienced Burke to lead a party which was the first to cross the continent from south to north and the tragedy that they perished half way on their return at Coopers Creek.
The critics are very sharp with their hindsight perfect judgement of what should have transpired and the better decisions that should have been made. They often are myopic to the competing demands that have been imposed of those in the field implementing the project. For example there was much pressure on Burke's Victorian sponsored expedition to beat John McDouall Stuart's South Australian expedition to cross the continent.
I both thank and congratulate Peter Fitzsimons for this book. I am in admiration of his efforts and the research undertaken by his support team. Without hesitation I assign a five star rating to the book. I repeat a plea to our educators to include major sections within their history to our early Australian explorers which went forth into the unknown and discovered just what is contained within our vast interior.
I have great confidence in Fitzsimons research. He had the support of four research people on this novel. The references and bibliography run for 54 pages. As a geologist that did a lot of field work over 12 years and worked the Cooper and Eromanga basin as a petroleum geologist for over twenty four years I understand the demands of the Australian bush and the Cooper Basin in particular. I am in awe of the courage of these men going into the unknown under great hardship.
This book should be on the essential reading list for our youth during their secondary school years. The Burke and Wills expedition is an important event in Australian history and should be given the respect it deserves. I admire the endeavour of people that conceive big dreams and get things done. That starts with those that have the dream, propose the task, plan how it might be achieved, promote it right down to those that implement. For every "doer" there is an army of critics that could have done it better. It is always the case. Fitzsimons covers each of these elements well. The maps, figures and sketches within the book allow the reader to follow the daily progress of the main expedition and all the other simultaneous activities of all the splinter parties. The title of the book is most appropriate, the triumph of the inexperienced Burke to lead a party which was the first to cross the continent from south to north and the tragedy that they perished half way on their return at Coopers Creek.
The critics are very sharp with their hindsight perfect judgement of what should have transpired and the better decisions that should have been made. They often are myopic to the competing demands that have been imposed of those in the field implementing the project. For example there was much pressure on Burke's Victorian sponsored expedition to beat John McDouall Stuart's South Australian expedition to cross the continent.
I both thank and congratulate Peter Fitzsimons for this book. I am in admiration of his efforts and the research undertaken by his support team. Without hesitation I assign a five star rating to the book. I repeat a plea to our educators to include major sections within their history to our early Australian explorers which went forth into the unknown and discovered just what is contained within our vast interior.
January 13, 2018
Amazing work...
Peter FitzSimons take a bow!
What excellent storyteĺing ... ii was not easy to put this book down.
He and his team have really brought this important historical saga to life.
Should be on the top of everyones must read list
Peter FitzSimons take a bow!
What excellent storyteĺing ... ii was not easy to put this book down.
He and his team have really brought this important historical saga to life.
Should be on the top of everyones must read list
November 4, 2025
Amazing, informative, engaging, edifying, comprehensive, are just some of the ways I would describe this book. Written with such perspicuity, with the author Peter Fitzsimons’ personal comments throughout, adding to my enjoyment. References to endnotes abound, providing verification on the sources of the content. The maps and photos enhance the reader’s experience. The Dramatis Personae listing the names and brief summaries of all those connected in some way with the Exploration Party was a valuable point of reference. Peter Fitzsimons has accomplished an outstanding literary work; in my view thinking of every inclusion to assist the reader. It is no wonder he is accredited as "Australia’s bestselling non-fiction writer".
“A veil hung over Central Australia that could neither be pierced or raised. Girt round about by deserts, it almost appeared as if Nature had intentionally closed it upon civilized man, that she might have one domain on the earth’s wide field over which the savage might roam in freedom.” – Charles Sturt reflecting on his previous expeditions to the interior in 1844-1846. (Some articles contain terms or views that were acceptable within mainstream Australian culture in the period in which they were written but may no longer be considered appropriate.)
Robert O’Hara Burke, born in Ireland, a soldier and police officer, totally lacking in bush skills, aged 39, appointed leader of the Victorian Exploring Expedition to cross the continent from south to north organized by the Royal Society of Victoria and supported by the government of Victoria. The Burke and Wills expedition (as it became known) was the costliest in the history of Australian exploration, a symbol of the nouveau riche colony that promoted it.
William John Wills, born in Devon, England, a British surveyor and meteorologist, who also trained as a surgeon, was aged 26, when he was appointed second-in-command of the expedition.
Melbourne, 20 August 1860 the Victorian Exploring Expedition finally, and I do mean finally, sets off, its aim is to reach the Gulf of Carpentaria. “Miles of supplies for the miles ahead”. I was totally astounded at the sheer motley of paraphernalia, carried on six wagons, which was intended to accompany the party into unknown terrain through Australia’s interior. The exploration party consisted of 19 men, 23 horses, and 26 camels (which had been recruited from the depths of Northern India and Afghanistan and had endured 10 weeks on the high seas).
The horses were frightened of the camels, having had no introduction to these strange beasts, and found the camel scent foul. Camels have been described as “a horse designed by a committee”, meaning too many were involved in its creation, and behold the outcome.
It was very quickly realised that the wagons and much of the paraphernalia had to be cast off and abandoned early in the expedition. Forging their way through Australia’s hostile interior was an enormous struggle for the men, together with the horses and camels, I found it so sad reading about their plight.
This expedition is as much a tragedy as it has a place in Australia’s exploration history. Imagine, Burke and Wills have reached the Gulf of Carpentaria, “six months of dusty tracks, boggy marshes, towering mountain ranges, debilitating deserts and threatening blacks, withstanding heat, cold, wet, drought, sandstorms, howling winds and humidity” and then to be denied access to the ocean due to the boggy sand ahead of the mangroves, its gravity sucking them down, and no shelter from the vicious summer sun.
These poor men have become skin and bone, their clothes tattered and torn, they are in absolute agony with “the roar of their aching and overworked muscles, the searing pain of the blisters on their feet”.
The sole survivor of the Gulf Party was John King, a man near death himself, his life sustained by an Aboriginal tribe, and eventually discovered by a member of a search party.
The skeletal remains of Burke and Wills were retrieved and returned to Melbourne.
A Royal Commission began 22 February 1861 and makes interesting reading. I felt William Brahe’s anguish at having made the decision to abandon the depot at Cooper’s Creek, to find out that he missed Burke, Wills and King by just 9 hours. William Brahe was exonerated.
Held accountable were:
• Robert O’Hara Burke for errors of judgement, failure to keep a regular journal, failure to give written instructions to his officers who pleaded unsatisfactory and contradictory verbal orders and statements.
• William Wright - reprehensible conduct in the highest degree
• The Exploration Committee, in overlooking the importance of the contents of Mr Burke's dispatch from Torowoto, and in not urging Mr Wright's departure from the Darling, committed errors of a serious nature.
We do indeed owe a great debt to the historians who have kept the story of the Burke and Wills Expedition alive, a long and arduous task. A motto of Peter Fitzsimon’s: “Make the skeletons dance.”
On 13 June 2011 Peter FitzSimons was named a Member of the Order of Australia for service to literature as a biographer, sports journalist and commentator, and to the community through contributions to conservation, disability care, atheism, social welfare and sporting organisations.
A book I would readily read again in the future.
“A veil hung over Central Australia that could neither be pierced or raised. Girt round about by deserts, it almost appeared as if Nature had intentionally closed it upon civilized man, that she might have one domain on the earth’s wide field over which the savage might roam in freedom.” – Charles Sturt reflecting on his previous expeditions to the interior in 1844-1846. (Some articles contain terms or views that were acceptable within mainstream Australian culture in the period in which they were written but may no longer be considered appropriate.)
Robert O’Hara Burke, born in Ireland, a soldier and police officer, totally lacking in bush skills, aged 39, appointed leader of the Victorian Exploring Expedition to cross the continent from south to north organized by the Royal Society of Victoria and supported by the government of Victoria. The Burke and Wills expedition (as it became known) was the costliest in the history of Australian exploration, a symbol of the nouveau riche colony that promoted it.
William John Wills, born in Devon, England, a British surveyor and meteorologist, who also trained as a surgeon, was aged 26, when he was appointed second-in-command of the expedition.
Melbourne, 20 August 1860 the Victorian Exploring Expedition finally, and I do mean finally, sets off, its aim is to reach the Gulf of Carpentaria. “Miles of supplies for the miles ahead”. I was totally astounded at the sheer motley of paraphernalia, carried on six wagons, which was intended to accompany the party into unknown terrain through Australia’s interior. The exploration party consisted of 19 men, 23 horses, and 26 camels (which had been recruited from the depths of Northern India and Afghanistan and had endured 10 weeks on the high seas).
The horses were frightened of the camels, having had no introduction to these strange beasts, and found the camel scent foul. Camels have been described as “a horse designed by a committee”, meaning too many were involved in its creation, and behold the outcome.
It was very quickly realised that the wagons and much of the paraphernalia had to be cast off and abandoned early in the expedition. Forging their way through Australia’s hostile interior was an enormous struggle for the men, together with the horses and camels, I found it so sad reading about their plight.
This expedition is as much a tragedy as it has a place in Australia’s exploration history. Imagine, Burke and Wills have reached the Gulf of Carpentaria, “six months of dusty tracks, boggy marshes, towering mountain ranges, debilitating deserts and threatening blacks, withstanding heat, cold, wet, drought, sandstorms, howling winds and humidity” and then to be denied access to the ocean due to the boggy sand ahead of the mangroves, its gravity sucking them down, and no shelter from the vicious summer sun.
These poor men have become skin and bone, their clothes tattered and torn, they are in absolute agony with “the roar of their aching and overworked muscles, the searing pain of the blisters on their feet”.
The sole survivor of the Gulf Party was John King, a man near death himself, his life sustained by an Aboriginal tribe, and eventually discovered by a member of a search party.
The skeletal remains of Burke and Wills were retrieved and returned to Melbourne.
A Royal Commission began 22 February 1861 and makes interesting reading. I felt William Brahe’s anguish at having made the decision to abandon the depot at Cooper’s Creek, to find out that he missed Burke, Wills and King by just 9 hours. William Brahe was exonerated.
Held accountable were:
• Robert O’Hara Burke for errors of judgement, failure to keep a regular journal, failure to give written instructions to his officers who pleaded unsatisfactory and contradictory verbal orders and statements.
• William Wright - reprehensible conduct in the highest degree
• The Exploration Committee, in overlooking the importance of the contents of Mr Burke's dispatch from Torowoto, and in not urging Mr Wright's departure from the Darling, committed errors of a serious nature.
We do indeed owe a great debt to the historians who have kept the story of the Burke and Wills Expedition alive, a long and arduous task. A motto of Peter Fitzsimon’s: “Make the skeletons dance.”
On 13 June 2011 Peter FitzSimons was named a Member of the Order of Australia for service to literature as a biographer, sports journalist and commentator, and to the community through contributions to conservation, disability care, atheism, social welfare and sporting organisations.
A book I would readily read again in the future.
June 2, 2018
A highlight of this text is the author's unique style - always enjoyable reading.
The story though...oh, what a disaster!! You could easily have subtitled this text "An unmitigated disaster from beginning to end". Throw together an inexperienced group of men selected by the Old Boys Club method and launch them into an expedition. And they don't step up to being bigger people when placed under pressure. Make sure they all pack too much luggage, and steadfastly refuse to notice that the indigenous inhabitants have been living successfully off the land for many thousands of years. The results sure arent pretty
I confess I had to leave the expedition to their own devices before they reached Coopers Creek the first time - the tale was just too depressing. And I know how it ends, anyway.
This is a very, very large book, but those interested in historical tales will likely relish the extensive research combined with Fitzsimon's engaging writing style.
The story though...oh, what a disaster!! You could easily have subtitled this text "An unmitigated disaster from beginning to end". Throw together an inexperienced group of men selected by the Old Boys Club method and launch them into an expedition. And they don't step up to being bigger people when placed under pressure. Make sure they all pack too much luggage, and steadfastly refuse to notice that the indigenous inhabitants have been living successfully off the land for many thousands of years. The results sure arent pretty
I confess I had to leave the expedition to their own devices before they reached Coopers Creek the first time - the tale was just too depressing. And I know how it ends, anyway.
This is a very, very large book, but those interested in historical tales will likely relish the extensive research combined with Fitzsimon's engaging writing style.
April 10, 2023
Burke and Wills are explorers that I did not know about. This dense and detailed history took care of that. I enjoyed the story and also the writing style, as the author stuck closely to the Victorian era speech styles. The author extensive researched this history and used letters and other documents to recreate as accurately as possible the statements of all involved in the expedition. Excellent history!
August 21, 2021
Fitzsimmons narrates the story of the Victorian Exploration Expedition (Burke & Wills) in a way that is both highly informative & tremendously engaging. The Burke & Wills story has much more to it, as exposed in this recount, than simply two European-Australians venturing into the desert. Never mind it's success or failure, this story is sure to give you great insight into one of Australia's most supported expeditions - coinciding with valuable perspective into the transport, communications and ambitions in 1860s Australia.
May 10, 2018
My second book of Fitzsimons and again loved every word of it.
Purists will argue that he doesn't keep strict to the facts, but the author admits to add "feelings" and fills in a few gaps with "what might have been said", so I don't mind it. I think it makes it a bit easier to read than dry facts.
As I said, second book, second like, I think the author has a fan in me.
Purists will argue that he doesn't keep strict to the facts, but the author admits to add "feelings" and fills in a few gaps with "what might have been said", so I don't mind it. I think it makes it a bit easier to read than dry facts.
As I said, second book, second like, I think the author has a fan in me.
February 24, 2018
Fitzsimons and his team have done a great job bringing together the historical jigsaw surrounding the best known explorers of inland Australia. In his forward, he states that his brother had suggested the idea that like the story of Mawson, there was something special beyond the facts assumed to be well known. I liked Mawson, but this was better...as a story, but more on that later perhaps.
I started this knowing little more than the names of Burke and Wills and that it didn't end well. I didn't know that the expedition had involved many more people, even some who went all the way (and whose names Victorian sensibilities neglected to include in the title). A great strength of the story is its depiction of the times - the flushed confidence of the Melbourne, and thanks to CSIRO studies, the contrasting perspective of aboriginal peoples who interacted with the exploration party. The struggle to cover almost trivial distances courtesy of European ignorance of Australia and its climate, along with the 19th century technologies available, sets the context for something moderns easily take for granted.
These broad landscapes then give way to the finer detail, primarily centred around the unavoidable question: how did it all go so wrong? From the outset, the culpability of many is foreshadowed - not always something I like, but unavoidable in this case, except for the bits where Fitzsimons lapses into the like of '.....but little did they know what would come next....' (Although this is pretty minor in this book, some histories I've read use the mechanism frequently, heavily discounting any pathos achieved for the story at that point and wasting words on a question better left to the reader to ask for themselves).
While the cause and effect of the immediate situation is laid out plainly, at least as Fitzsimons has come to see it, I was intrigued by the culture that permitted these actions. On one hand, command and control was alive and well, as was the view prejudice of privilege - merit based selection, for better and worse, received little consideration. On the other hand, the inability for teams to maintain functional cohesiveness was astounding. Perhaps the two are related, with the emphasis honor and standing reinforcing pettiness in decision making processes. Given some of the modern leadership standards available, these flaws seem to defy comprehension - were our forbears really so dull? But then I realise that for all the theory available now, the reality can be far from ideal - these guys were perhaps more like us than I'd like to believe....
My final reflection was the bigger picture of the Australian myth. Why did these guys, failing as they did, end up at the top of our exploration hero list? Fitzsimons book sheds some light on proximal causes of Melbourne marketing before and after the expedition, motivated by noble and ignoble rationales, placing them firmly into the public spotlight. But is there something deeper? Perhaps unwilling to speak ill of the dead, the flaws in the expedition were left unspoken. On the flip side, I'd hate to think the contemporaneous achievement of Sturt was regarded as less remarkable due to some sort of tall poppy mentality. But then there's Gallipoli, and the way it has come to symbolize much of the Australian spirit, despite being an utter disaster militarily. Are we perhaps so well off for the most part that we need something tragic to get our attention? I suspect that as a young country, we are still learning about ourselves. It's great that Fitzsimons and his team are bringing these to the public consciousness. And while he doesn't indulge in the musings that I do in this review, i suspect that such pondering is part of their motivation for writing.
I started this knowing little more than the names of Burke and Wills and that it didn't end well. I didn't know that the expedition had involved many more people, even some who went all the way (and whose names Victorian sensibilities neglected to include in the title). A great strength of the story is its depiction of the times - the flushed confidence of the Melbourne, and thanks to CSIRO studies, the contrasting perspective of aboriginal peoples who interacted with the exploration party. The struggle to cover almost trivial distances courtesy of European ignorance of Australia and its climate, along with the 19th century technologies available, sets the context for something moderns easily take for granted.
These broad landscapes then give way to the finer detail, primarily centred around the unavoidable question: how did it all go so wrong? From the outset, the culpability of many is foreshadowed - not always something I like, but unavoidable in this case, except for the bits where Fitzsimons lapses into the like of '.....but little did they know what would come next....' (Although this is pretty minor in this book, some histories I've read use the mechanism frequently, heavily discounting any pathos achieved for the story at that point and wasting words on a question better left to the reader to ask for themselves).
While the cause and effect of the immediate situation is laid out plainly, at least as Fitzsimons has come to see it, I was intrigued by the culture that permitted these actions. On one hand, command and control was alive and well, as was the view prejudice of privilege - merit based selection, for better and worse, received little consideration. On the other hand, the inability for teams to maintain functional cohesiveness was astounding. Perhaps the two are related, with the emphasis honor and standing reinforcing pettiness in decision making processes. Given some of the modern leadership standards available, these flaws seem to defy comprehension - were our forbears really so dull? But then I realise that for all the theory available now, the reality can be far from ideal - these guys were perhaps more like us than I'd like to believe....
My final reflection was the bigger picture of the Australian myth. Why did these guys, failing as they did, end up at the top of our exploration hero list? Fitzsimons book sheds some light on proximal causes of Melbourne marketing before and after the expedition, motivated by noble and ignoble rationales, placing them firmly into the public spotlight. But is there something deeper? Perhaps unwilling to speak ill of the dead, the flaws in the expedition were left unspoken. On the flip side, I'd hate to think the contemporaneous achievement of Sturt was regarded as less remarkable due to some sort of tall poppy mentality. But then there's Gallipoli, and the way it has come to symbolize much of the Australian spirit, despite being an utter disaster militarily. Are we perhaps so well off for the most part that we need something tragic to get our attention? I suspect that as a young country, we are still learning about ourselves. It's great that Fitzsimons and his team are bringing these to the public consciousness. And while he doesn't indulge in the musings that I do in this review, i suspect that such pondering is part of their motivation for writing.
November 9, 2021
I was so prepared to hate this book. Peter FitzSimons the red bandana wearing authority on everything always rubbed me the wrong way, in all aspects of media. The fact that he seemed to produce a book a week on whatever topic took his fancy also did not sit well with me. How could they have any merit, why were they so popular? Surely no one believes that anything in them could be of merit. He must be like Alan Jones, just a parrot who regurgitates established fact and the hard work is done by true researchers while the name on the banner takes the credit.
Here are the facts, as a piece of academic writing this book is a disaster. One one occasion our author places in the mountain of footnotes a word justifying an event inclusion simply as "it must of happen", not a good start. He also presents the book in a present tense narrative, with verbal conversations repeated verbatim, with no witnesses or evidence credited in footnotes. The list is endless. What I did not expect was to enjoy it so much. The material covered was interesting and exciting. I wanted to know what happened next, hated the villains...and their were many and was astounded by the blundering, stupidity, and in fighting that took place that contributed to the disastrous conclusion of the epic adventure. Burkes reasons for unsuitability to lead such an expedition were covered in depth ( he would get lost three hundred meters from any nearest town), Brahes decision to leave the Dig Tree Camp hours before the Gulf party arrival were addressed in a neutral manner, and the events leading up to and after the disaster such as the fate of all those involved and different theories are also discussed in a way an academic text would not be able to approach with credibility.
And here lies the biggest pleasure of the work. This is not an academic text, and as so it can rise questions that would be quickly in an academic environment be dismissed and not even included in the final result or even raised. One such example is the theory that Burke and Wills actually had a punch up when things were hopelessly lost, and just what did King really know that he took to the grave? To get his narrative across and reflecting upon the work FitzSimons (or his researchers who really do all the work......I still think it is those who should share the credit to be honest) all up produce a story as an academic piece of writing is a disaster, but as a piece of great story telling and enjoyable reading it is a triumph. Simply as that. Maybe next time I just want a good read I will try another of his books. It cant be too bad if this title is any example.
Here are the facts, as a piece of academic writing this book is a disaster. One one occasion our author places in the mountain of footnotes a word justifying an event inclusion simply as "it must of happen", not a good start. He also presents the book in a present tense narrative, with verbal conversations repeated verbatim, with no witnesses or evidence credited in footnotes. The list is endless. What I did not expect was to enjoy it so much. The material covered was interesting and exciting. I wanted to know what happened next, hated the villains...and their were many and was astounded by the blundering, stupidity, and in fighting that took place that contributed to the disastrous conclusion of the epic adventure. Burkes reasons for unsuitability to lead such an expedition were covered in depth ( he would get lost three hundred meters from any nearest town), Brahes decision to leave the Dig Tree Camp hours before the Gulf party arrival were addressed in a neutral manner, and the events leading up to and after the disaster such as the fate of all those involved and different theories are also discussed in a way an academic text would not be able to approach with credibility.
And here lies the biggest pleasure of the work. This is not an academic text, and as so it can rise questions that would be quickly in an academic environment be dismissed and not even included in the final result or even raised. One such example is the theory that Burke and Wills actually had a punch up when things were hopelessly lost, and just what did King really know that he took to the grave? To get his narrative across and reflecting upon the work FitzSimons (or his researchers who really do all the work......I still think it is those who should share the credit to be honest) all up produce a story as an academic piece of writing is a disaster, but as a piece of great story telling and enjoyable reading it is a triumph. Simply as that. Maybe next time I just want a good read I will try another of his books. It cant be too bad if this title is any example.
September 23, 2018
What a story of endurance and sadness. I thought of those explorers in the early days of European settlement of Australia as people who just got up and decided to explore. Obviously not something I had given a lot of thought to. None of these journeys across this great continent could have been done I now realise without a lot of planning and financing. I doubt any of them were single-handed although there is usually only one name associated with their voyages of discovery, Sturt, Mitchell, Hume et al. Apart from the subjects of this book of course, Burke and Wills.
The author, Peter FitzSimons. has weaved a most engrossing story out of the wealth of documentary evidence available from the time, right up to the death in some cases. Peter's ability to tell a good yarn over and over again from the driest of facts and prose is outstanding. The endurance and sheer strength of character of the individuals involved shines through this story of the extraordinary expedition to be the first party to traverse Australia from south to north across Australia. There were moments during the book that I felt distinctly unwell, particularly where the last of the party were reaching the end of their travails, the writing had me that involved. Now I don't recommend this book for you to feel unwell but to be inspired by the courage and stamina of not only Robert O'Hara Burke and William John Wills but also of John King the only survivor from the push to the end.
One small note, the effect of class on the selection and decision making of those involved struck me as strange from this distance of time. I also particularly enjoyed the highlighting of the positive role that the aboriginals played on a number of occasions through the story. All in all this is another excellent, history brought to life, read from Peter FitzSimons.
The author, Peter FitzSimons. has weaved a most engrossing story out of the wealth of documentary evidence available from the time, right up to the death in some cases. Peter's ability to tell a good yarn over and over again from the driest of facts and prose is outstanding. The endurance and sheer strength of character of the individuals involved shines through this story of the extraordinary expedition to be the first party to traverse Australia from south to north across Australia. There were moments during the book that I felt distinctly unwell, particularly where the last of the party were reaching the end of their travails, the writing had me that involved. Now I don't recommend this book for you to feel unwell but to be inspired by the courage and stamina of not only Robert O'Hara Burke and William John Wills but also of John King the only survivor from the push to the end.
One small note, the effect of class on the selection and decision making of those involved struck me as strange from this distance of time. I also particularly enjoyed the highlighting of the positive role that the aboriginals played on a number of occasions through the story. All in all this is another excellent, history brought to life, read from Peter FitzSimons.
February 1, 2020
Finding this hard going.
Not a fan of Peter FITZSIMONS at all but thought the book might be interesting. Typical of FITZSIMONS he begins by tell us how wonderful he is; really; even the title is an example of his ego. He could not just leave it as Burke and Wills - and by the way, who judged them Australia's most famous explorers? why, because they became lost?
Anyway I am only part way in and I am finding his writing style tedious, and unfortunately for my history education, might have to forego going any further. I am sure there is something elsewhere that can give just as good a description of these two explorers.
FITZIMONS puts his own bent on events, which really ruins the experience of reading.
Not for me, and really, not recommended.
Not a fan of Peter FITZSIMONS at all but thought the book might be interesting. Typical of FITZSIMONS he begins by tell us how wonderful he is; really; even the title is an example of his ego. He could not just leave it as Burke and Wills - and by the way, who judged them Australia's most famous explorers? why, because they became lost?
Anyway I am only part way in and I am finding his writing style tedious, and unfortunately for my history education, might have to forego going any further. I am sure there is something elsewhere that can give just as good a description of these two explorers.
FITZIMONS puts his own bent on events, which really ruins the experience of reading.
Not for me, and really, not recommended.
January 13, 2018
At first, I was not enamoured of Fitzsimons writing; in fact I found it downright hard work. But, and I'll be the first to admit it, I soon warmed to this most delightful rendition of one of the greatest of Australian stories and in truth, I could barely put the 623 page tome down.
I've given the book and the author the full 5 stars and advise anyone interested in Australian history to give it a read.
I've given the book and the author the full 5 stars and advise anyone interested in Australian history to give it a read.
August 17, 2019
The story of Burke and Wills is a fascinating one, but it is not told well in this retelling by Peter Fitzsimons. It is ponderous and heavy, and too full of the author's own ego in his writing style. However, the story is an important part of Australian history, and I'm still glad I laboured through this massive volume to learn more about the exploration of Australia. I won't take getting to drive around in a four wheel drive in the bush, with easy access to water and shops, for granted again.
December 1, 2020
I tellya wot; those cobbers shoulda put some sheilas in charge of this mission and it might not have been such an almighty balls up.
May 25, 2021
Over-rated, too long, detailed and boring. Finally gave up on the basis that my time would be better spent reading good books.
May 22, 2023
Excellent read. Leads to make one ponder the real reason behind both dying on the trail and what really happened to Charles Gray, was his death an accident or retribution for stealing food supplies.
March 6, 2018
A good read, puts you right there...
In the early 50’s, I used to watch a television program hosted by Walter Cronkite called You Are There. The show would re-enact famous events from history and Cronkite would report as if from an actual newscast, with reporters on the scene of the event. The show chronicled events such as the sinking of the Titanic and the Chicago fire. Peter Fitzsimons writes his historical accounts as if you are there, witnessing the events as they happened. Burkes & Wills is another of his books utilizing this style.
This review is not going to address the accuracy of Fitzsimons account of the ill-fated exploration of Australia, but rather the writing itself. My review of Ned Kelly received a very negative comment when I said Fitzsimons had done an excellent job of telling Ned’s story. Since I am not from Australia, I cannot attest to the factual depiction of either of these accounts.
I can say that I love Fitzsimon’s style. Although his books are lengthy, I found myself engrossed in the telling of the story of Burke & Wills, and felt the emotion of those in this sad tale. The descriptions and detail made this reader feel as if I were there.
This book will make you laugh, cry and leave you wondering how this exploration got as far as it did. As the subtitle states, this is a tale of the triumph and tragedy of Australia’s most famous explorers.
I highly recommend this book and give it five stars.
In the early 50’s, I used to watch a television program hosted by Walter Cronkite called You Are There. The show would re-enact famous events from history and Cronkite would report as if from an actual newscast, with reporters on the scene of the event. The show chronicled events such as the sinking of the Titanic and the Chicago fire. Peter Fitzsimons writes his historical accounts as if you are there, witnessing the events as they happened. Burkes & Wills is another of his books utilizing this style.
This review is not going to address the accuracy of Fitzsimons account of the ill-fated exploration of Australia, but rather the writing itself. My review of Ned Kelly received a very negative comment when I said Fitzsimons had done an excellent job of telling Ned’s story. Since I am not from Australia, I cannot attest to the factual depiction of either of these accounts.
I can say that I love Fitzsimon’s style. Although his books are lengthy, I found myself engrossed in the telling of the story of Burke & Wills, and felt the emotion of those in this sad tale. The descriptions and detail made this reader feel as if I were there.
This book will make you laugh, cry and leave you wondering how this exploration got as far as it did. As the subtitle states, this is a tale of the triumph and tragedy of Australia’s most famous explorers.
I highly recommend this book and give it five stars.
January 14, 2024
It was with some trepidation I read my first ever Peter FitzSimons book. I had not read any earlier because I could not fathom how FitzSimons could churn out books at such a pace. My humble history book took ten years of research before it came to fruition. Peter seems to do a new book every year on an inordinate number of subjects. So how could it be possible that a book done in such a hurry was so brilliant? Clearly Peter's researchers (and he has four I believe) deserve significant praise (and I'd suggest their names on the cover) for finding such wonderful detail about the expedition, but clearly Peter deserves acclamation for the style of story telling he brings to the subject. It is engaging, informative, at times amusing, poignant and present (without his authorial presence being too dominating). I thought I knew a lot about Burke and Wills before reading this book — how wrong I was. It was clear the expedition was doomed from the start (the old boy's network is never a good way to choose leaders) and yet Peter got me to read every word as I watched the slow motion car crash come to fruition. A brilliant read.
February 4, 2019
Thank you to Hachette Australia for my copy. This has been on my TBR pile for about a year now and I wish I got around to reading it sooner.
This is my first Peter FitzSimons book and I have to be honest as I really struggled with the first part of the book. I found the style of writing hard work and unusual to read and felt I was pushing myself to get to the start of the expedition. I am so glad I didn't give up because as soon as the expedition got on the way the writing seemed different and a lot easier to read and enjoy.
Peter really did his research with this book, it's very thorough and covered all aspects of the expedition from go to whoa. Man, what a ride! I felt at times that I was there with the men, thirsty, starving, hot and exhausted. What an absolute debacle the expedition was in many ways and I am absolutely amazed at the men's bravery for doing what they did, but also amazed at the stupid mistakes and lack of planning.
Highly recommend to anyone thst wants to learn about an important part of Australian history.
This is my first Peter FitzSimons book and I have to be honest as I really struggled with the first part of the book. I found the style of writing hard work and unusual to read and felt I was pushing myself to get to the start of the expedition. I am so glad I didn't give up because as soon as the expedition got on the way the writing seemed different and a lot easier to read and enjoy.
Peter really did his research with this book, it's very thorough and covered all aspects of the expedition from go to whoa. Man, what a ride! I felt at times that I was there with the men, thirsty, starving, hot and exhausted. What an absolute debacle the expedition was in many ways and I am absolutely amazed at the men's bravery for doing what they did, but also amazed at the stupid mistakes and lack of planning.
Highly recommend to anyone thst wants to learn about an important part of Australian history.
March 12, 2020
The book seems to move at the same pace as the journey. From the beginning there is the sense of languid hurry. A race between two states, South Australia and Victoria, to see which one can reach the 'top' first.
This book covers, exhaustively, the Victorian effort from Melbourne, which was the nation's premiere city at the time.
Despite the 'race', the journey didn't begin until about page 120. The last two chapters are investigations and recriminations. Like the journey, it is exceedingly long. What helps the reader along are occasional bursts of impressive prose:
"Even here, however, well beyond the ants, life bursts forth, with extraordinary birdlife – countless flocks of pigeons, parrots, cockatoos and brolgas career, careen and cruise effortlessly above them, often cackling in laughter or cawing in derision at their feeble efforts – all attesting to the fecundity of the area, despite its severity for those seeking to cross it."
Despite sentences like this, be prepared for a long slog.
This book covers, exhaustively, the Victorian effort from Melbourne, which was the nation's premiere city at the time.
Despite the 'race', the journey didn't begin until about page 120. The last two chapters are investigations and recriminations. Like the journey, it is exceedingly long. What helps the reader along are occasional bursts of impressive prose:
"Even here, however, well beyond the ants, life bursts forth, with extraordinary birdlife – countless flocks of pigeons, parrots, cockatoos and brolgas career, careen and cruise effortlessly above them, often cackling in laughter or cawing in derision at their feeble efforts – all attesting to the fecundity of the area, despite its severity for those seeking to cross it."
Despite sentences like this, be prepared for a long slog.
June 24, 2021
I must say it is a huge accomplishment by the author to write such diligently a detailed history of Australia's most famous explorers. However I think this book is for academics and researchers not for an ordinary reader like me. A concise version would have been more enjoyable.
I learnt so many things regardless. So far I only stared at the statues of Mr Robert O'Hara Burke and Mr William Wills in Melbourne. This book told me their story.
Mr Burke seems to be an eccentric man and utterly short-sighted when it comes to leading an exploration in a land previously unknown to Europeans. It is no wonder the expedition hence had tragic outcomes.
I was really touched by the generosity and kindness shown by aboriginals to the European explorers ( = intruders ) whilst the latter were dying of hunger and disease. Whoever stereotypes Indigenous Australians as lazy drunkards , should be forced to read the pages of this book where their kindness is vividly portrayed.
I learnt so many things regardless. So far I only stared at the statues of Mr Robert O'Hara Burke and Mr William Wills in Melbourne. This book told me their story.
Mr Burke seems to be an eccentric man and utterly short-sighted when it comes to leading an exploration in a land previously unknown to Europeans. It is no wonder the expedition hence had tragic outcomes.
I was really touched by the generosity and kindness shown by aboriginals to the European explorers ( = intruders ) whilst the latter were dying of hunger and disease. Whoever stereotypes Indigenous Australians as lazy drunkards , should be forced to read the pages of this book where their kindness is vividly portrayed.
April 4, 2023
There is so much about the story of Burke and Wills that simply defies belief. There was certainly courage, endurance, bravery, adventure, & advancement, but the overall tragedy is compounded by the ineptness of those who sent them, those who should have supported them better, those who should have followed orders, & sheer incompetence of so many involved in the whole saga (including Burke) makes a gallant effort a wasted exercise in pride & a cautionary tale against trusting scientists & politicians to make common sense decisions.
I’m not usually a big fan of Fitzsimons’ style of writing, but this volume (epic as it is) was well researched, had far less agenda (historical political or religious / anti-religious retrospection or chronological snobbery ) built-in than some of his other works. Was a big read, but informative & engaging. Best I’ve read by him!
I’m not usually a big fan of Fitzsimons’ style of writing, but this volume (epic as it is) was well researched, had far less agenda (historical political or religious / anti-religious retrospection or chronological snobbery ) built-in than some of his other works. Was a big read, but informative & engaging. Best I’ve read by him!
November 20, 2017
I found this book quite fascinating. I also thought that Burke was a fool who single headedly caused the expedition to fail. After reading this book I believe that, whilst Burke was a totally incompetent bushman, he was a brave and inspirational leader. The principle cause of the expedition's failure lays at the feet of the Expedition Committee. Virtually every mistake made has its roots in actions taken or not taken by the committee. Even Burke's mistakes can be traced back to the committee because they chose him as leader, knowing he was such a poor bushman that he would get lost within 300 metres of leaving a track. I am glad I read this book. I am a much more knowledgeable person as a result.
July 15, 2018
This book was given to me by husband as a Christmas present. It being such a massive book has been put down numerous times since I first picked it up to read others books (like my book club books) and my light romances.
While I had been told about Burke and Wills when at school, that was the extent of my knowledge.
It took me a little while to become used to the authors style of writing, but by the end of the book I can honestly say that it was good.
I have discussed Messrs Burke and Wills with my daughter and a few of her friends and I am amazed that none of them knew who I was talking about!!
I would recommend this book as once you become used to the writer, he does tell a good story and I feel that my knowledge of this part of our history has increased.
While I had been told about Burke and Wills when at school, that was the extent of my knowledge.
It took me a little while to become used to the authors style of writing, but by the end of the book I can honestly say that it was good.
I have discussed Messrs Burke and Wills with my daughter and a few of her friends and I am amazed that none of them knew who I was talking about!!
I would recommend this book as once you become used to the writer, he does tell a good story and I feel that my knowledge of this part of our history has increased.
September 24, 2021
Breathlessly related in the present tense, FitzSimons' chronicle of the ill-fated and wildly disorganized Burke & Wills expedition of 1860-61 relies heavily on primary documents -- at times feeling more like a transcript than a historical narrative -- and is generally light on information synthesis. Interesting in a deep dive into bureaucracy and the perils of group projects sort of way, but I felt that the epilogue and long view of the expedition was somewhat sparse. Especially considering the length of the book. Deals more with interpersonal issues than it does with the actual exploration of Australia's interior.
April 11, 2018
FitzSimons' writing reflects his experience as a journalist. It's a very easy read. Well researched, and, for me, very interesting. The expedition is looked at in a 'meanwhile, back home' sort of way which gives you a real feel for the context.
Warning: If you have the hardback (I do), don't try to read it in bed! 624 pages, not including the copious (and useful) end notes and index which take another 76 pages.
Warning: If you have the hardback (I do), don't try to read it in bed! 624 pages, not including the copious (and useful) end notes and index which take another 76 pages.
November 6, 2018
This is a marathon of a read, and worth every bit of it. The hardcover version is 623 pages, a very comprehensive telling of the Burke and Wills story. I knew the bare bones of the tragic expedition and now feel much better informed about it. The whole thing was doomed from the point that Burke was selected as leader, and the book details every misstep along the way. Peter Fitzsimons' style is always very readable, and his team of researchers have done their usual very thorough job.
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