Australian Tragic

These are stories of catastrophe and misfortune, intrigue and passion, betrayal and tragedy, some you may think you know - others, you have never heard of - but all will capture your imagination.

They range across our past and our present: the heartbreaking story of the fire at Luna Park; the unstoppable opportunist who snatched innocent men and women from Palm Island to be part of P.T. Barnum's 'Greatest Show on Earth'; a world-class boxer who lost his battle with alcohol and ended up in an unmarked American grave; Steve Irwin, who was written off as a joke by the media, only to be hailed as a hero on his sudden death; and a man who heroically survived a war to find himself crushed and defeated by events much closer to home.

Heartbreaking and shocking, gothic and weird, these fascinating stories are all true, and told to remind us of the Australia we don't know, the one that simmers with love and hate, of hopes raised and futures dashed, unheralded and unnoticed...until now.

About the Author

Jack Marx has written for the Sydney Morning Herald, The Times, The Age, Truth, Black & White, Gq, The Evening Standard, Penthouse, Men's Style, Ralph, Madison, Australian Traveller, Rolling Stone and many other local and overseas publications. A former editor of AUSTRALIAN STYLE magazine, he has also written online blogs for both Fairfax Digital and News.com.au and won a Walkley Award in 2006 for the online feature, I Was Russell Crowe's Stooge. His books include The Damage Done with Warren Fellows, Sorry - The Wretched Tale Of Little Stevie Wright And Australian Tragic.