Black Snake cover art

Black Snake

Thief, Thug, Killer: The Real Story of Ned Kelly

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Black Snake

By: Leo Kennedy, Gareth Rickards
Narrated by: Mic Looby
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About this listen

Leo Kennedy is the great-grandson of Sergeant Michael Kennedy, slain by Ned Kelly at Stringybark Creek. Raised in the shadow of his great-grandfather’s murder, Leo witnessed the deep psychological wounds inflicted on successive generations of his family - and the families of other victims - as the Ned Kelly myth grew around them and the sacrifice of their loved ones was forgotten.

Leo himself was nicknamed ‘Red Ned’ at school and taunted for being on the wrong side of Australian history. Instead of celebrating a heroic man of the people, Leo gives voice to the victims of a merciless gang of outlaws. Through meticulous research and family history he tells the captivating true story of two men from similar backgrounds whose legacies were distorted by history.

©2018 Leo Kennedy and Mic Looby (P)2018 W. F. Howes Ltd
History True Crime

What listeners say about Black Snake

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    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

One step closer to the truth.

A very good read for all Kelly enthusiasts.
Offers a very different perspective on the gangs history to that of mainstream "mythologists".
Leo opens up major holes in the popular versions of the story but I felt he couldn't hide his own biases, not that you could blame him.
But overall you get the feeling that the truth lies somewhere in the middle. A small victory for his cause.
A little hypocritical to complain all through the book about the misuse of the symbolism of the armour and then use the image on the cover, especially as quoted in the book Ned's armour didn't appear until 18 months after the seige at Stringybark.

Keep going Leo I still thoroughly enjoyed your book.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Awesome book

Well written and narrated.
Impeccable referencing.
A contemporary outlook, that holds up under scrutiny.
Covers the story from all angles, inclusive of before, during and aftermath.
Refreshing to hear how this murderous lazy crook, lacking morals or work ethic is put into context.

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    2 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Not the right narrator to be reading this book

story was great just the way I t was read made it hard to follow.

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