{"title":"Jim Haynes","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eJim Haynes\u003c\/strong\u003e offers a compelling journey through the untold tales and colourful characters of Australian history. His works blend elements of \u003cem\u003ebiography, travel, adventure, and historical insight\u003c\/em\u003e, capturing the spirit of pioneers, rebels, and remarkable individuals who have shaped the nation’s identity.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eReaders can expect richly woven narratives filled with quirky anecdotes, gripping true stories, and vivid accounts of Australia’s sporting legends, outlaws, and everyday heroes. Haynes' storytelling invites exploration of the country's past through a lens of intrigue, adventure, and cultural reflection.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"adventurers-pioneers-and-misfits-by-jim-haynes-9781760877620","title":"Adventurers, Pioneers and Misfits","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe petty thief... who escaped Van Diemen's Land, twice, stole the government brig and set sail for Japan, where, by the Shogun's decree, all foreigners were to be executed.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe world's best cricketer, a champion of Aboriginal people who 'invented' Aussie Rules, survived the worst massacre of white settlers in Australia's history and killed himself with a pair of scissors.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe eccentric musical genius... who played in the greatest concert halls in the world but pushed his favourite piano stool between venues in a wheelbarrow.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eOver the many years Jim Haynes has spent exploring and writing about the quirkier events and people in Australia's history, he has discovered characters who have amazed, surprised, and simply baffled him. This is a book about some of those men and women and their remarkable, out-of-the-ordinary, and almost unbelievable lives.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eAs he always does, Jim has discovered that there is more to the story than first meets the eye. Who knew that the first man hanged in Australia made an artefact now valued at over one million dollars? Or that an Australian swimmer was the highest-paid act on the American vaudeville circuit and the star of the first million-dollar movie ever made? And that the father of the first Australian woman to serve in parliament was hanged for murder?\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eWith a light touch, a wry eye, and his gifts as a master storyteller, Jim shares the tales and adventures of a group of heroic, feisty, flawed, and pioneering characters who have shaped our nation and introduced Australia to the world.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Allen \u0026 Unwin","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46797562183916,"sku":"9781760877620","price":37.99,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/26163143482814.jpg?v=1757154244"},{"product_id":"australias-most-unbelievable-true-stories-by-jim-haynes-9781760632410","title":"Australia's Most Unbelievable True Stories","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDid you know that in 1932 the Australian army was called out to wage war on an invading army of 20,000...emus? 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The unlikely yarns and tales, collected by Jim Haynes, quickly transport the reader into the intriguing but often hard and lonely world of the long-distance truck driver.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThere are stories of endurance while crossing the Nullarbor in the early 1950s, of rescuing mates stranded in the desert, and dumping wheat in protest at Parliament House, of repossessing vehicles in suburban Adelaide, and of men imprisoned during the long political battle to make the roads of Australia free to carry freight. 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The yarns range from the poignant to the hilarious, from the ridiculously Australian to the unexplained and spooky. There are heroic and inspiring characters, as well as larrikins and crooks, and everyday humorous events told with a refreshing understatement that vividly evokes a vanishing Australia.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThere are tall stories from the bush, yarns from our colourful colonial past and more modern times, railway stories, sporting legends, and many other things you never knew about our amazing history and the people who made it - men and women whose astonishing lives and achievements created the Aussie spirit.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe result of decades of research into popular culture and history from all parts of the country, unearthing little-known facts and tales long-buried, \u003ci\u003eThe Big Book of Australian Yarns\u003c\/i\u003e will have you smiling for days and spinning yarns to all your mates.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e'It's fair to say that Jim certainly knows how to pull together a collection of ripping good yarns.' - \u003ci\u003eAustralian Rural \u0026amp; Regional News\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Allen \u0026 Unwin","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46845990895852,"sku":"9781761471865","price":39.99,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/4019803482815.jpg?v=1758902148"},{"product_id":"great-furphies-of-australian-history-by-jim-haynes-9781760879815","title":"Great Furphies of Australian History","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWith all the skills of the master storyteller that he is, Jim Haynes exposes some of the great myths of Australian history.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eDid you know that Portuguese and Spanish explorers probably found the east coast of Australia before Captain Cook, and that the Rum Rebellion was not caused by rum? And what about Banjo Paterson writing \u003ci\u003eWaltzing Matilda\u003c\/i\u003e? As for Ned Kelly being a brave freedom-fighting rebel, in truth he was a thief, a thug, and a murderer. The Ashes have nothing to do with cricket, the Ghan is not named after Afghan cameleers, and Hargraves lied about discovering gold in New South Wales.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eSurprising, confounding, revealing, and fun, Jim Haynes takes us on another great journey through Australian history and folklore.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e'An entertaining book... recommended reading'\u003c\/b\u003e \u003ci\u003eSabretache\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e'His research is meticulous. 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These stories uncover the truth and expose the myths about characters ranging from the most despicable examples of humanity, to those whose courage has to be admired and whose so-called 'crimes' were unjustly punished.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThis fascinating collection features felons who have sprung from Australia's underbelly since 1788, such as the infamous Kate Leigh of the razor gangs; the convict Mary Bryant, who in 1791 escaped from the Sydney penal settlement and somehow made it back to England; James Hardy Vaux, who was sent to Australia no less than three times; Henry James O'Farrell, the madman who attempted to murder Prince Alfred in Sydney in 1868; and John Leak, who was repeatedly charged with insolence, disobedience, and being absent without leave in World War I - and awarded the Victoria Cross.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eTold with Jim's inimitable combination of history and humour, \u003cem\u003eGreat Australian Rascals, Rogues and Ratbags\u003c\/em\u003e is packed with murders, mystery, and miscreants: true stories of true criminals from Australia's past.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e'a terrific book' - \u003cem\u003eCanberra Weekly\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e'entertaining . . . highly readable . . . you will find some genuinely amazing new facts and insights.' - \u003cem\u003eArtsHub\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e'[Haynes'] research was extensive which adds to making this book extremely interesting . . . 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True stories of true criminals from Australia's past have definitely resulted in a book that's one heck of a darn good read.' - \u003cem\u003eAustralian Rural \u0026amp; Regional News\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Allen \u0026 Unwin","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47072546291948,"sku":"9781761067907","price":39.99,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/28066013482814.jpg?v=1765116421"},{"product_id":"great-australian-odysseys-by-jim-haynes-9781761471469","title":"Great Australian Odysseys","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTrucks, trains, boats, and planes – welcome to a treasury of unsung heroes and extraordinary journeys that have shaped Australia's history.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eFrom the bravery of Australia's sailors to our great age of rail, the resilience of the truckers crossing the Nullarbor to the daring aviation pioneers who turned the skies into a new frontier, \u003ci\u003eGreat Australian Odysseys\u003c\/i\u003e is a rich tapestry of adventure and ingenuity, with a good dose of Aussie laughs.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eJourney through tales of hardy truckers braving isolation, mechanical mishaps, and political battles. 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Here are stories of famous races and jockeys, touts and urgers, nose-to-nose battles and a rort or two, as well as country race meetings where anything can happen.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThis rich collection captures the heart and soul of the turf and reminds us exactly why a day at the races and having a punt are such an important part of the Australian spirit.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Allen \u0026 Unwin","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47341224198380,"sku":"9781760632403","price":32.99,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/23710973482814.jpg?v=1772186794"},{"product_id":"the-best-australian-racing-stories-by-jim-haynes-9781760633318","title":"The Best Australian Racing Stories","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDid you know that Jorrocks raced till the grand old age of 19? 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Was the Ghan really named after the Afghan cameleers? Does that urn that represents that greatest of all sporting clashes between Australia and England really contain the ashes of a burnt cricket bail? And who really is the most important Australian who ever lived?\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eAustralia's Best Unknown Stories\u003c\/em\u003e introduces us to the forgotten nation builders, artists, poets and great unknown characters of Australian history. Jim Haynes tells the funniest, the most amazing, and the quirkiest stories that capture the heart and soul of the Australian spirit.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Allen \u0026 Unwin Aotearoa New Zealand","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47602813567212,"sku":"9781760291075","price":29.99,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/9781760291075-australia-s-best-unknown-stories.jpg?v=1778047529"},{"product_id":"the-big-book-of-convict-stories-by-jim-haynes-9781761474200","title":"The Big Book of Convict Stories","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAustralia's convict past is alive around us, and bestselling author Jim Haynes has brought together an unforgettable cast of rogues, rebels, survivors and visionaries from this fascinating era. Spanning the years of transportation from the First Fleet to its abolition, this rich and lively collection reveals the human drama behind the founding of the nation: daring escapes, remarkable reinventions, brutal punishments, incredible resilience and lives shaped by both hardship and opportunity.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003eThe Big Book of Convict Stories\u003c\/i\u003e is packed with famous names and forgotten figures alike: bushrangers, pirates, swindlers, settlers, women who defied impossible circumstances, and men whose fortunes rose and fell in spectacular fashion. Haynes explores why transportation began, how the convict system worked and what life was really like in the penal settlements, told through the lives of the extraordinary men and women of the colonies.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eWarm, witty and deeply researched, these tales illuminate the complexity of colonial Australia and those whose struggles, crimes, courage and ingenuity helped shape the nation.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e'In a year when we could all use a different perspective Jim Haynes came to the rescue with his latest sojourn into history . . . a cast of colourful characters.' \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eSpectator\u003c\/i\u003e on \u003ci\u003eHeroes, Rebels and Radicals of Convict Australia\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e'Aussies love a good story and entertainer Jim Haynes has been telling them for decades' \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eCourier-Mail\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e'It's fair to say that Jim certainly knows how to pull together a collection of ripping good yarns based on historical facts rather than hearsay, myth and rumour.' \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eAustralian Rural \u0026amp; Regional News\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Allen \u0026 Unwin Aotearoa New Zealand","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":67712194380012,"sku":"9781761474200","price":39.99,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/9781761474200-the-big-book-of-convict-stories-1.jpg?v=1791851749"}],"url":"https:\/\/bookhero.live\/collections\/jim-haynes.oembed","provider":"Book Hero","version":"1.0","type":"link"}