Something different after a short break. This is a recording of a talk about The Ballad of Abdul Wade that I gave on 12 September 2023 at the Sydney Mechanics’ School of Arts as part of History Week organised by the History Council of NSW. I'm still tapping away at my manuscript and have the first draft down. I'm now into the editing phase, which is both satisfying and terrifying. Satisfying in that I now have a first draft, terrifying in that I have to confront what I've written.
I'm with Jim.....good to hear your voice telling this story. There was a natural ease to your telling of this. I could have listened longer - so fascinating is!
Ryan: What a pleasure to hear your voice speaking to this very important book of yours on Abdul Wade - himself a VIP Australian. I relished your book when it was first published and I found it as thrilling again in its own way your re-telling it here. Along with additional asides - re the Burke History Museum and about the ADB - in refusing to tidy up the gaps about E Millen. And about the disappearance of Abdul from the pages of history - and meeting with his number of times great grandson in W'gong. Book-ends. And your understanding in the way of history that someone at some stage into the future will uncover other threads to this story. So many stories with huge gaps in the truthfulness of which have created the myths of our broad "understanding" of this country - which need to be brought up into the light. Thank-you again for your passion with this story - and whatever your next book is about - I am looking forward to it!
I'm with Jim.....good to hear your voice telling this story. There was a natural ease to your telling of this. I could have listened longer - so fascinating is!
Ryan: What a pleasure to hear your voice speaking to this very important book of yours on Abdul Wade - himself a VIP Australian. I relished your book when it was first published and I found it as thrilling again in its own way your re-telling it here. Along with additional asides - re the Burke History Museum and about the ADB - in refusing to tidy up the gaps about E Millen. And about the disappearance of Abdul from the pages of history - and meeting with his number of times great grandson in W'gong. Book-ends. And your understanding in the way of history that someone at some stage into the future will uncover other threads to this story. So many stories with huge gaps in the truthfulness of which have created the myths of our broad "understanding" of this country - which need to be brought up into the light. Thank-you again for your passion with this story - and whatever your next book is about - I am looking forward to it!
Looking forward to the next book Ryan