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The Explorers: An Utterly Hilarious Comedy About Australia’s Most Disastrous Expedition
Australia is a large bit of land located in a part of the world no one cares about. In 1770, it was discovered by James Cook. In 1803, circumnavigated by Matthew Flinders. Then in 1860, two impressively bearded chaps—Robert Burke and William Wills—attempted to explore the big inner bit of it, and in so doing, died tortuously slow, lonely deaths in the middle of nowhere.
The problem these fellows ran into, unfortunately, is that Australia is very big. It’s also covered with desert and that, making it a tad difficult to cross. Also not helping matters was that with them on their exploratory quest—perhaps the most misguided in history—were a party of fantastically incapable men.
For their attempted accomplishments, the names Burke and Wills have echoed through the halls of history like a ball bearing dropped into a tin can. This novel, a fast, strange and wickedly funny dramatisation of their expedition, is one such tinny echo. You'll fall in love with the colourful and hilariously flawed characters. Have a bit of a chuckle at the sophisticated, often dark, sometimes bawdy Australian humour. And enjoy a nice, breezy, uplifting read about human failure and a bunch of chaps perishing in the valley of the shadow of death.
This novel isn't just the perfect beach (or sitting on the toilet) read. It’s a harrowing descent into the madness of Australian frontiersmanship. A tale about ineptitude. Camels. Men lacking basic survival and social skills. But most of all, it's the story of the most ambitious exploratory quest in Commonwealth history, and how it spectacularly unravelled.
The problem these fellows ran into, unfortunately, is that Australia is very big. It’s also covered with desert and that, making it a tad difficult to cross. Also not helping matters was that with them on their exploratory quest—perhaps the most misguided in history—were a party of fantastically incapable men.
For their attempted accomplishments, the names Burke and Wills have echoed through the halls of history like a ball bearing dropped into a tin can. This novel, a fast, strange and wickedly funny dramatisation of their expedition, is one such tinny echo. You'll fall in love with the colourful and hilariously flawed characters. Have a bit of a chuckle at the sophisticated, often dark, sometimes bawdy Australian humour. And enjoy a nice, breezy, uplifting read about human failure and a bunch of chaps perishing in the valley of the shadow of death.
This novel isn't just the perfect beach (or sitting on the toilet) read. It’s a harrowing descent into the madness of Australian frontiersmanship. A tale about ineptitude. Camels. Men lacking basic survival and social skills. But most of all, it's the story of the most ambitious exploratory quest in Commonwealth history, and how it spectacularly unravelled.
425 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 30, 2021
34 people are currently reading
5 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
June 8, 2022
Not my cup of tea
Looking for a light-hearted, fun read, I chose this book and labored through it. It was not my taste in humor and I did not particularly enjoy. There was not one character I found appealing, though the complete mindlessness of King was somewhat entertaining. When I realized I didn't care if everyone in the book died, I knew I wanted to be done with the story.
Looking for a light-hearted, fun read, I chose this book and labored through it. It was not my taste in humor and I did not particularly enjoy. There was not one character I found appealing, though the complete mindlessness of King was somewhat entertaining. When I realized I didn't care if everyone in the book died, I knew I wanted to be done with the story.
July 4, 2022
Absolutely hilarious, 100% entertainment
I read this alongside Sarah Murgatroyd's The Dig Tree. A thoroughly enjoyable romp about the ill fated expedition. Based on researched facts and in a format that will have you in stitches throughout.
I read this alongside Sarah Murgatroyd's The Dig Tree. A thoroughly enjoyable romp about the ill fated expedition. Based on researched facts and in a format that will have you in stitches throughout.
March 2, 2023
The most tedious heavy handed load of porridge I've ever waded through. Thumbs down from me
June 4, 2022
A captivating read that had me engaged from start to finish. I had moments where I literally laughed out loud, particularly at the bits about the camels. Wonderfully well written and thoroughly enjoyed...cannot recommend it enough!
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews