1932

Scandals, disasters, shocks and crises: 1932 could truly be described as one of the most electrifying years in Australian history, alive with unforgettable characters and momentous events. Looking back, it's hard to believe how much happened in that fateful year to become the stuff of enduring national legend: the Sydney Harbour Bridge opened by surprise with the slashing sword of Captain Francis de Groot; the birth of the Australian Broadcasting Commission; the mysterious death of the beloved race horse Phar Lap, the controversial dismissal of NSW Premier Jack Lang, and the start of cricket's infamous Bodyline series. Those were among the best remembered incidents but there were others - from an epic outback rescue of two lost aviators to the most expensive divorce case ever heard - that reflected the distinctive flavour of the times. Overshadowing all else, the Great Depression seemed to single Australians out for special punishment, pushing a fragile young society to the brink of disintegration. By 1932 - the worst of it - a third of the population had been reduced to living like refugees in their own land while a lucky few emerged rich as third world rajahs. Acclaimed journalist and author Gerald Stone takes us on an exhilarating and fascinating journey through a year that quite literally changed a nation. Evocative and brilliantly researched, this is a book that turns history into compelling reading at its very best.