Welcome to Nihil Alienum
Books and blogs by David Gormley-O'Brien
Spanning Federation, two world wars, the Depression, the Sydney Harbour Bridge, the Cowra Breakout, the British Commonwealth occupation of Japan and the long road to peace, the Becoming Australia series captures the humour, hardship, and humanity of ordinary Australians living in extraordinary times.
For readers who cherish meticulously researched historical fiction, An Attractive Naivety and Ashes and Sakura together form a vivid, unflinching, and ultimately hopeful account of Australia’s coming of age in the twentieth century.
What readers are saying
Ashes and sakuraCarolineI enjoyed Ashes and Sakura even more than David’s previous book An Attractive Naivety. It is a rich blending of historical detail with an engaging story following the experiences of members of the Darcy and Davis families during the Second World War. I found it hard to put down. Can’t wait for the next book of the series to be available.
Ashes and sakuraGeoff Cumming'An Attractive Naivety' used a narrative largely of a broad range of members of the Darcy-Davis family to illuminate the history of Australia in the first four or so decades of last century. 'Ashes & Sakura', the sequel, is more tightly focused on the last couple of years of the Second World War and the first couple of years after its end. The main characters are again from the Darcy-Davis family; it is good to be with them again. We start on an army base on Morotai, an Indonesian island, then continue with the occupying military forces in southern Japan. We also make several visits to the families back home.
The narrative is particularly strong, often gripping, also complex, nuanced, and always evolving. It is fascinating to learn of the highly varied attitudes of the 'winners' and 'losers' and how these changed. It is good to have the Darcy-Davis family tree as an appendix.
A beautiful historical novel, highly recommended.
Ashes and sakuraSusan ReiterI really enjoyed this second instalment and the continuing story. Lots of history and insight woven into the story, and very readable.
Recent blog posts
The Diggers' Darling
Aboriginals in the Australian Constitution
Why were aboriginal natives not to be counted for constitutional purposes (section 127)?
Chapter 3 of An Attractive Naivety highlights the excitement in Sydney on New Year's Day, 1901, when people from all over New South Wales, and indeed from the other colonies and other parts of the world, came together to celebrate the birth of a new nation. It was a coming of age, where Australia would take up its place on the world stage. Its people would be both Australian and British.
Australian army nurses prisoners
In An Attractive Naivety, Armistice Darcy, a character inspired by Australian nurse, Betty Jeffrey, is one of 65 Australian army nurses evacuated from Singapore on 12 February 1942, just before its fall, on the SS Vyner Brooke. The following day, Friday the 13th, the ship was attacked by six Japanese bombers and sunk. Of those who made it to shore, 21 were savagely raped and murdered by Japanese soldiers on Radji Beach, Bangka Island.