Paul Daley
Author of Beersheba: A Journey Through Australia's Forgotten War
About the Author
Paul Daley, a journalist of more than two decades' experience, has worked as a political writer, an investigative reporter, a foreign affairs and defence correspondent, and a feature writer for major Australian newspapers. A former national affairs editor for the now defunct Bulletin magazine, he show more has also reported from conflict zones in Asia, the South Pacific, Europe and the Middle East. The Canberra-based writer and Fairfax politics columnist is the recipient of the Walkley Award for Excellence in Investigative Journalism and the Paul Lyneham Award for Excellence in Press Gallery Journalism. show less
Series
Works by Paul Daley
Tagged
Common Knowledge
- Gender
- male
Members
Reviews
Collingwood : a love story by Paul Daley
The story of two Collingwood players, Paddy Rowan and his best mate Malcolm ‘Doc’ Seddon, who both loved the same woman Louisa Newby. Rowan and Seddon both fought in World War 1, but only one returned to Louisa Newby.
I’m sure Daley would have appreciated the irony of my optometrist’s question when he saw me reading it in the waiting room: is it from a conservative point-of-view? he asked.
Well, hardly. Daley’s essay is a passionate rebuttal of what passes for patriotism in Australia today, and it’s fair to say that conservatives probably won’t like Daley’s derisive views on the costs and extent of Anzac commemorations and the forthcoming Captain Cook memorial, or his scornful opinion of John Howard and his attitude to Indigenous dispossession. Daley rejects the idea that national identity began with Gallipoli, and seems disappointed that even Donald Horne identified Anzac—’the Festival of the Ordinary Man’—as an understated but critical tenet of national identity. (This was despite Horne in 1964 having noted the ‘very lack of any definite nationalism’ in Australia. He thought that in the shadow of ‘an age that [had] seen so much horror and cruelty unleased in the name of nationalism’, this was no bad thing).
But Anzac day was very different in Horne’s day:
More to the point in terms of Daley’s quest to interrogate contemporary Australian patriotism, Anzac Day is now considered ‘sacred’:
It seems to be true. An excerpt from The Australian newspaper (26/4/2013) pours scorn on any challenge to the idea of Anzac as the defining sentiment of Australian nationalism:
However, I am not entirely convinced by Daley’s interpretation that this excerpt implies an accusation of treason. While I am most certainly not, as my readers would know, an apologist for The Australian, Daley’s claim seems a bit excessive to me:
To read the rest of my review please visit https://anzlitlovers.com/2018/12/11/on-patriotism-by-paul-daley-little-books-on-...… (more)
Well, hardly. Daley’s essay is a passionate rebuttal of what passes for patriotism in Australia today, and it’s fair to say that conservatives probably won’t like Daley’s derisive views on the costs and extent of Anzac commemorations and the forthcoming Captain Cook memorial, or his scornful opinion of John Howard and his attitude to Indigenous dispossession. Daley rejects the idea that national identity began with Gallipoli, and seems disappointed that even Donald Horne identified Anzac—’the Festival of the Ordinary Man’—as an understated but critical tenet of national identity. (This was despite Horne in 1964 having noted the ‘very lack of any definite nationalism’ in Australia. He thought that in the shadow of ‘an age that [had] seen so much horror and cruelty unleased in the name of nationalism’, this was no bad thing).
But Anzac day was very different in Horne’s day:
…25 April 2018 represented peak Anzac—three-quarter time in a 51-month, $600-million carnival of Australian World War I commemoration that ended on 11 November: Remembrance Day. What was, when Horne wrote his 1964 book, a day of folksy, thoughtful reflection has been transformed into a permanent commemorative sound-and-light show. Any capacity for quiet reflection on the 62,000 who died in World War I, or the 102,000 defence personnel who’ve perished in all of this country’s overseas operations, has been drowned out amid the type of boisterous jingoism and exclusive you-flew-here-we-grew-here style of nationalism that has imbued Australia Day with even greater potency since the 1988 bicentenary. (p.12)
More to the point in terms of Daley’s quest to interrogate contemporary Australian patriotism, Anzac Day is now considered ‘sacred’:
In 2015, the historian Peter Cochrane wrote ‘Drape ‘Anzac’ over an argument and, like a magic cloak, the argument is sacrosanct’. (p.13)
It seems to be true. An excerpt from The Australian newspaper (26/4/2013) pours scorn on any challenge to the idea of Anzac as the defining sentiment of Australian nationalism:
‘The best advice we can offer is that they ignore the tortured arguments of the intellectuals and listen to the people, the true custodians of this occasion. They must recognise that the current intellectual zeitgeist is at odds with the spirit of Anzac. It recognises neither the significance of a war that had to be fought nor the importance of patriotism. Honour, duty and mateship are foreign to their thinking. They may be experts on many things, but on the subject of Anzac, they have little useful to say.’ (p.20)
However, I am not entirely convinced by Daley’s interpretation that this excerpt implies an accusation of treason. While I am most certainly not, as my readers would know, an apologist for The Australian, Daley’s claim seems a bit excessive to me:
By this rationale, those who questioned Anzac as the defining sentiment of Australian nationalism during the centenary would be at best unpatriotic. By implication, challenging or undermining the national sentiment built around Anzac would seem to be treasonous. (p.20-21)
To read the rest of my review please visit https://anzlitlovers.com/2018/12/11/on-patriotism-by-paul-daley-little-books-on-...… (more)
A good read with some interesting photos, the book tells two stories. First it tells the story of the Australian Light Horse during WWI and it also tells the story of the Authors during their trip to the Middle East to go over the same ground. A very human story and a nice read.
In an interview from the Sydney Morning Herald with author Paul Daley, he describes the character of Daniel Slattery from CHALLENGE as :
“a “cross between Mark Latham and Holden Caulfield”. “He's a misogynist, idealist, class warrior and economic rationalist, but he's principled," says Daley. "He cares about minorities including indigenous Australians and the poor. He has a fascination and old-fashioned respect for women, lives his political life as an allegory of sorts and likes to use his stories to illustrate how others less fortunate want to live their life. But he's a very angry man too." “*
Whilst the comparison with Mark Latham might provide some political watchers with pause for thought, there's no doubt that Slattery is an interesting, albeit challenging character – regardless of where the inspiration came from. There are more references, hints and reminders dotted throughout most of the characters in this book that could have you reaching for the reference materials. As CHALLENGE is as close to a one sitting read as it gets, it may be that you're not going to want to spare the time.
Despite Slattery's most outrageous moments, there's something sadly endearing about a politician with conviction. Like 'em or loathe 'em, Slattery's epiphany is to be honest. To say what he thinks, and to mean what he says. Hear that odd rustling noise? That's party machine apparatchiks everywhere fanning themselves and reaching for the tranquillisers. The thriller aspect of CHALLENGE then becomes about the campaign to undo Slattery's leadership, right at the time that the opposition has a chance of winning an election.
That the underhandedness of the campaign has the validity that it does in this novel is a sobering prospect. That the idea that a politician might actually make a commitment to stand up for something (other than getting elected) particularly saddening in the time around the death of Mr Whitlam. One of the tributes written about his time in politics that resonated particularly is that he was the last of the leaders who “appealed less to people's material instincts than to their better instincts.”** Whilst not for a moment could you compare the fictional with the real-life, there's something in this story, in this character that is saying something about the higher principle. Albeit from a somewhat dodgy, all too human starting-point.
Which is also part of his strength, and a reminder of what's so wrong about politics these days. Slattery is undeniably no perfect character. He has made, and continues to make some questionable personal decisions, just as many of us have done and do. And he will stand up and admit, even when it's painful to do so (and not just for him). It's very telling how things from his past are twisted, manipulated and used to pressure, and ultimately build or destroy somebody, all on the whim of the “faceless men”.
CHALLENGE is definitely a thriller in style, as the race to deflect the power brokers, and flush the games builds, alongside the pressure that Slattery, as Opposition Leader feels. Darkly funny at times, especially when getting the gloves off and stuck into the hypocrisy, and the stupidity, and the bastardry, it's a reminder of just how treacherous people can be. There's some telling insights into the havoc that a politician's lifestyle can visit on those around them, and whilst they might be rewarded financially, it's a reminder that money, as is power, can be a rather meaningless outcome.
* http://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/books/author-interview-paul-daley-20140919-1...
** http://www.smh.com.au/comment/obituaries/gough-whitlam-dead-martyr-for-a-moment-...
http://www.austcrimefiction.org/review/review-challenge-paul-daley… (more)
“a “cross between Mark Latham and Holden Caulfield”. “He's a misogynist, idealist, class warrior and economic rationalist, but he's principled," says Daley. "He cares about minorities including indigenous Australians and the poor. He has a fascination and old-fashioned respect for women, lives his political life as an allegory of sorts and likes to use his stories to illustrate how others less fortunate want to live their life. But he's a very angry man too." “*
Whilst the comparison with Mark Latham might provide some political watchers with pause for thought, there's no doubt that Slattery is an interesting, albeit challenging character – regardless of where the inspiration came from. There are more references, hints and reminders dotted throughout most of the characters in this book that could have you reaching for the reference materials. As CHALLENGE is as close to a one sitting read as it gets, it may be that you're not going to want to spare the time.
Despite Slattery's most outrageous moments, there's something sadly endearing about a politician with conviction. Like 'em or loathe 'em, Slattery's epiphany is to be honest. To say what he thinks, and to mean what he says. Hear that odd rustling noise? That's party machine apparatchiks everywhere fanning themselves and reaching for the tranquillisers. The thriller aspect of CHALLENGE then becomes about the campaign to undo Slattery's leadership, right at the time that the opposition has a chance of winning an election.
That the underhandedness of the campaign has the validity that it does in this novel is a sobering prospect. That the idea that a politician might actually make a commitment to stand up for something (other than getting elected) particularly saddening in the time around the death of Mr Whitlam. One of the tributes written about his time in politics that resonated particularly is that he was the last of the leaders who “appealed less to people's material instincts than to their better instincts.”** Whilst not for a moment could you compare the fictional with the real-life, there's something in this story, in this character that is saying something about the higher principle. Albeit from a somewhat dodgy, all too human starting-point.
Which is also part of his strength, and a reminder of what's so wrong about politics these days. Slattery is undeniably no perfect character. He has made, and continues to make some questionable personal decisions, just as many of us have done and do. And he will stand up and admit, even when it's painful to do so (and not just for him). It's very telling how things from his past are twisted, manipulated and used to pressure, and ultimately build or destroy somebody, all on the whim of the “faceless men”.
CHALLENGE is definitely a thriller in style, as the race to deflect the power brokers, and flush the games builds, alongside the pressure that Slattery, as Opposition Leader feels. Darkly funny at times, especially when getting the gloves off and stuck into the hypocrisy, and the stupidity, and the bastardry, it's a reminder of just how treacherous people can be. There's some telling insights into the havoc that a politician's lifestyle can visit on those around them, and whilst they might be rewarded financially, it's a reminder that money, as is power, can be a rather meaningless outcome.
* http://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/books/author-interview-paul-daley-20140919-1...
** http://www.smh.com.au/comment/obituaries/gough-whitlam-dead-martyr-for-a-moment-...
http://www.austcrimefiction.org/review/review-challenge-paul-daley… (more)
Lists
Awards
You May Also Like
Statistics
- Works
- 17
- Members
- 151
- Popularity
- #137,935
- Rating
- 3.6
- Reviews
- 5
- ISBNs
- 36