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Four Fires

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Four Fires

By: Bryce Courtenay
Narrated by: Humphrey Bower
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About this listen

 The four fires in this story are passion, religion, warfare and fire itself. While there are many more fires that drive the human spirit, love being perhaps the brightest flame of all, it is these four that have moulded us most as Australian people. The four fires give us our sense of place and, for better or for worse, shape our national character.©2001 Christine Courtenay, a recording of the book published by PenguinBooks Australia Ltd. (P)2001 Bolinda Publishing Historical Fiction Fiction Thought-Provoking

Critic Reviews

"A superb storyteller." (The Times)
"Humphrey Bower, speaking as Mole, delivers every possible nuance and emotion of his character's story, and shows a startling aptitude for other dialects as well. Close family friends and enemies include surviving Polish Jews, an East Indian healer, an Irish Catholic priest, Japanese prison camp soldiers, and many others. All of them, young and old, male and female, spring to vivid life in Bower's versatile voice. Narrative passages and dialogue elicit tears and laughter by turns, without a minute of boredom in the 30-hour production." (AudioFile Magazine)

What listeners say about Four Fires

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Profile Image for Paul Morris

Fantastic!

Of all the audible books I have listened to, including Bryce Courtenay books, this has been the most enjoyable book by far! Humphrey Bower is the best narrator I have listened to so far and his performance of this wonderful story made it a fantastic experience. The story, told through the eyes of boy who was the main character, was heart warming and funny, making me smile, laugh and tear up throughout the story. I LOVED IT! Thanks to all involved.

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Profile Image for Jennifer

Captivating and educational

Wonderful storyline that helped me gain a much better insight into Aussie Battlers, mateship, community and the price paid by our veterans in war. Narration expressed emotion so well and really captured essence of characters despite all being read by same narrator.

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Profile Image for Lorna Furst

i didn't want this book to end

loved everything about this book the Narrator was amazing loves his abilities to do the accents

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Profile Image for Michelle

Bryce Courtenays best!

Fantasticly written and narrated , my favourite of all Bryces novels. great Australia story. love it!

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Profile Image for Anonymous User

A fantastic story

Such an emotionally engaging story that made me laugh and cry. Very well read and easy to listen to. Made my trips in the car so much more enjoyable.

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Profile Image for Linda Lea

Most enjoyable

I was totally involved with all the ups and downs of the family! Found the information about the wars fascinating and very worthwhile.

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Profile Image for Lynda Gulbransen

Wow

I felt it was a book that every high school student should be made to read full of emotion truth, sadness, and it might make the youth of today, realise they haven’t got it so bad after all, leading their privilege lives, and never going through trauma and sadness like this family has

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Profile Image for MM

Excellent

Fantastic Australian story. Great characters pnt and you get so deep into it. Loved reading it.

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Profile Image for Carol

Great story

Storytelling at its best! Narrator did an excellent job! I highly recommend this audio book.

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Profile Image for sue

fantastic history

l not only love the author but the narrative too. kept me attentive to every detail

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In the spirit of reconciliation, Audible acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.