The Ballad of Les Darcy

Peter FitzSimons

Jul 2008 · Bolinda · Narrated by Humphrey Bower

About this audiobook

'Put Les Darcy in a uniform and the men of Australia will march to hell behind him.' That was the message Australia's great 'Blacksmith Boxer' was getting, as debate about conscription raged in the middle of World War I. The problem was that Les Darcy didn't want to march at the fore of such a procession, nor to such a destination. He wanted to continue what he had been doing to extraordinary acclaim before the war began - taking on the best boxers the world could throw at him, and lifting his entire family out of poverty as he did so. Torn between the duty he felt he owed his family, and the duty many felt he owed his country, Les made his choice and faced the consequences. And so unfolds a ballad of love, war, betrayal, mystery, patriotism and heroism; a ballad of a champion whose story still has the power to move the stoniest heart.

About the author

Peter FitzSimons is one of the Sydney Morning Herald's and Sun Herald's most popular columnists. He broadcasts daily on Radio 2UE and is a regular contributor to the International Herald Tribune and the London Daily Telegraph. He is the author of seventeen books, including biographies of Nancy Wake, Nene King, John Eales, Steve Waugh and Charles Kingsford Smith. Peter lives with his family in Sydney.

Humphrey Bower is a gifted and versatile actor. Since obtaining a BA (Hons) in English Language and Literature at Oxford University, he has worked extensively in theatre, television and audiobook narration. Humphrey won the prestigious Audie Award (US) for his performance of The Family Frying Pan by Bryce Courtenay, and was shortlisted for an Audie Award for his performances of Gould's Book of Fish by Richard Flanagan and Brother Fish by Bryce Courtenay. Humphrey's sensitive and intelligent readings are highly regarded and he is well-known for his capacity to perform a variety of accents.