The forgotten islands : a personal adventure through the islands of Bass… (original 2011; edition 2011)

The strange thing about reading the work of an enthusiast, is that after a while the author becomes more of a puzzle to unlock than the subject matter itself. Veitch comes across as socially awkward for most of the book as he travels and explores the history of the islands of Bass Straight. He attempts to link the various accounts of the many islands together by the consistent retelling of a mythical story he heard as a boy that allegedly took place on Deal Island. However, it never quite works. The book is interesting enough, and so is the author, but his anecdotes never quite hit the heights that good travel writing reaches. ( )