Banjo
Failed to add items
Add to basket failed.
Add to Wish List failed.
Remove from Wish List failed.
Follow podcast failed
Unfollow podcast failed
Banjo
Buy Now for $42.99
No valid payment method on file.
We are sorry. We are not allowed to sell this product with the selected payment method
-
Narrated by:
-
Peter Byrne
-
By:
-
Grantlee Kieza
About this listen
Balladeer, bushman, soldier, foreign correspondent - the remarkable life of Australia's greatest storyteller.
A. B. ‘Banjo’ Paterson is rightly recognised as Australia’s greatest storyteller and most celebrated poet, the boy from the bush who became the voice of a generation. He gave us our unofficial national anthem, ‘Waltzing Matilda’, and treasured ballads such as ‘The Man from Snowy River’ and ‘Clancy of the Overflow’, vivid creations that helped to define our national identity.
But there is more, much more, to Banjo’s story, and in this landmark biography, award-winning writer Grantlee Kieza chronicles a rich and varied life, one that straddled two centuries and saw Australia transform from a far-flung colony to a fully fledged nation.
Born in the bush, as a child Banjo rode his pony to a one-room school along a trail frequented by outlaw Ben Hall. As a young man he befriended Breaker Morant and covered the second Boer War as a reporter. He fudged his age to enlist during World War I, ultimately driving an ambulance before commanding a horse training unit during that conflict.
Newspaper editor, columnist, foreign correspondent and ABC broadcaster, he knew countless luminaries of his time, including Rudyard Kipling, Winston Churchill, Field Marshal Haig and Henry Lawson. The tennis ace, notorious ladies’ man, brilliant jockey and celebrated polo player was an eyewitness to countless key moments in Australian history and saw Carbine and Phar Lap race.
Extensively researched and written with Kieza’s trademark verve, Banjo is a lively and captivating portrait of this truly great Australian.
©2018 Grantlee Kieza (P)2018 BolindaWhat listeners say about Banjo
Average Customer RatingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars
-
Performance4 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Kristen
- 25-11-2020
Great book!
It was really interesting, to hear Banjo’s story. It was also beautifully read, but it’s just a bit of a shame the narrator didn’t check the pronunciation of some of the NSW place names! It seems he may be a Victorian or South Australian. Molong, Muswellbrook, Castlereagh and Quirindi were standout examples. Overall, well executed.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
3 people found this helpful
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Anonymous User
- 05-04-2023
More than just Banjos Story
A wonderful historical read / listen. So much background and insight into the early settlers days and the unforgiving Australian bush. I learnt a lot more about Lawson also. The epilogue bought tears to my eyes and leant weight to the how enduring Banjo is in the lives of many Australians.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
2 people found this helpful
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Robert John Elsworth
- 14-02-2019
Opened my eyes to an exceptional Aussie
Absolutely adore his literary works and his enduring legacy to our wonderful country. Now I’m the full bottle on what kind of man he was. A truly inspirational human being. Thank you Graham Kieza for your thorough research and creativity in writing this exceptional account of Banjo’s life.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
2 people found this helpful
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars
-
Performance4 out of 5 stars
-
Story4 out of 5 stars
- Steve
- 06-08-2021
Enjoyable, with a couple of gripes.
I did enjoy this audio book, but I found myself not wanting to give it 5 stars due to two concerns. Although this book is about Banjo, I found it would enter into long section about other characters, making it sometimes hard to follow. There is great sections about Henry Lawson, which were actually quite interesting, but were much longer than they needed to be. In saying that, a book that was to cover the life of both authors in parallel would be quite a good one. A smaller issue, but none the less an issue were the narators inability to pronounce certain Australian place name. Scone a Quirindi were two in particular, that I found quite grating, but other than that the reading is quite well done. Again, I found this to be very interesting and enjoyed learning about this great character, and the book covers the life of Banjo very well...
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
2 people found this helpful
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars
-
Performance4 out of 5 stars
-
Story4 out of 5 stars
- Anonymous User
- 07-11-2020
Very detailed
The story is good but a little too detailed. it should have been cut by about 20%
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
1 person found this helpful
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance4 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Hugh
- 14-09-2019
Great Story. Small problem with narration
I have always been fascinated by the life of Banjo who was a first cousin of my grandmother. I have lived and worked in most of the locations. I loved the story. One small criticism. The narrator mispronounced nearly every Australian location mentioned in the book.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
2 people found this helpful
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Anonymous User
- 05-01-2022
Australiana at its best!
From the first chapter to the last, this story maintained a high level of interest which was hard to stop between chapters. Banjo, a great man that sowed the seeds of aussie storytelling and captivated our minds for generations to come. A truly great story well worth listening to.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
1 person found this helpful
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Robyn
- 01-01-2025
Outstanding biography
Mr Kieza again shows his research and writing skills to produce yet another fine biography. As Banjo’s youth was spent in the bush, his story necessarily involves descriptions of the hardships faced by the Patterson family and all those making a life in the bush. Throughout, Kieza cleverly interweaves the story of Henry Lawson; Lawson’s wretched life and circumstances are a stark contrast to the successful life Banjo made for himself. There is also a walk-on part for Breaker Morant and other famous or infamous characters of the time. If I could find one fault with the book, it’s the length but I suspect that is because so much of Banjo’s life was centred on the bush, sport, and horses and I have zero affinity with any of them. One sour note: I was disappointed to hear Kieza write that Queen Victoria’s predecessor, William IV, was her father! I rewound to listen a second time and I’m sure that’s what he said. Peter Byrne’s narration is excellent and his reading of some of Banjo’s best-known poems is outstanding, the best I’ve heard.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
1 person found this helpful
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Anonymous User
- 17-10-2021
Yet another great book by Grantlee Kieza
I love Grantlee’s story on Macquarie and this biography on Patterson was just as fantastic. A must read or listen for anyone
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Jaidee
- 11-01-2021
Fascinating!
What a life! Remarkable man who lived in amazing times and met some true and great characters.
Loved this book and highly recommend.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!