Breaker Morant

By: Peter FitzSimons

Narrated by: Cameron Goodall

The epic story of the Boer War and Harry 'Breaker' Morant: drover, horseman, bush poet - murderer or hero?

Most Australians have heard of the Boer War and of Harry 'Breaker' Morant, a figure who rivals Ned Kelly as an archetypal Australian folk hero. But Morant was a complicated man. Born in England and immigrating to Queensland in 1883, he established a reputation as a rider, polo player and poet who submitted ballads to The Bulletin and counted Banjo Paterson as a friend. Travelling on his wits and the goodwill of others, Morant was quick to act when appeals were made for horsemen to serve in the war in South Africa. He joined up, first with the South Australian Mounted Rifles and then with a South African irregular unit, the Bushveldt Carbineers.

The adventure would not go as Breaker planned. In October 1901 Lieutenant Harry Morant and two other Australians, Lieutenants Peter Handcock and George Witton, were arrested for the murder of Boer prisoners. Morant and Handcock were court-martialled and executed in February 1902 as the Boer War was in its closing stages, but the debate over their convictions continues to this day.

With his masterful command of story, Peter FitzSimons takes us to the harsh landscape of southern Africa and into the bloody action of war against an unpredictable force using modern commando tactics. The truths FitzSimons uncovers about 'the Breaker' and the part he played in the Boer War are astonishing - and finally we will know if the Breaker was a hero, a cad, a scapegoat or a criminal.

Give it a chance

I originally purchased this book but returned it after it initially failed to capture my interest. Then after considering the the author (whose books I thoroughly enjoy) and the great reviews, I decided to give it another chance. I’m glad I did! It eventually unfolded into a wonderful tale of history and brutal truth about a war a originally knew nothing about. Bravo Peter!!

Good but long

The first half was a little long and drawn out. Phenomonal performance, though. Very interesting (and true) story.

Thanks Pete

One of my favorite parts is that Oden heard about the Breaker and went to South Africa to randevu where they faced down a notorious warlord. It surprised me that Lord Kitchener decided on suicide, even before the boat sank. Well this white monk is heading back to the crypts now, I want to hear a fiddle saw on some strings.

Horrors of war

The story is extraordinary. The narrator unmatched in talent and skill.
The brutality of war is astounding woven throughout this epic story.

Could have been a good book...

I was looking forwards to listening to this book as I am very familiar with the incident and the war in general. Sadly, as South African, I could not stomach the utterly horrendous South African/Afrikaans/Dutch accents the narrator insisted on using. Beyond, brutal, I could not get through the first two hours...