The decay of public language, recollections of a bleeding heart. With his own style and wit, a well set out book,sit back and expect a few chuckles on this one. Recollections of a bleeding heart 10th anniversary edition by. In this podcast, don watson discusses the wealth of ideas in his latest book, there it is again. A portrait of paul keating by don watson random house rec.
Don watson s betrayal of confidences apparently incensed paul keating, and, reading between the lines of this tome, it is not hard to see why. Dec 18, 2017 tom keneally calls him dazzlingly elegant and perceptive, while paul keating will take to his grave a deep dislike of the man. Don watson has been writing about australian politics, history and culture for forty years. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading recollections of a bleeding heart 10th anniversary edition. Though trained in history rather than economics and. Paul keating prime minister, which won the age book of the year and nonfiction prizes, the brisbane courier mail book of the year, the national biography award and the australian literary studies associations book of the year, death sentence, which. Paul keating prime minister, won both the the age book of the year and nonfiction prizes, the brisbane courier mail book of the year, the national biography award and the australian.
Sep 21, 2014 paul keating and don watson at the launch of recollections of a bleeding heart in 2002. Famously employed as paul keating s speechwriter, don watson reflects on ten years since the publication of his acclaimed biography, recollections of a bleeding heart. Don watson books on the booktopia don watson author. Don watson s books, articles and essays have been widely acclaimed.
His bestselling titles include recollections of a bleeding heart paul keating prime minister, which won the age book of the year and nonfiction prizes, the brisbane courier mail book of the year, the national biography award and the australian literary studies associations book of the year, death sentence, which won the. Watson gives readers an extraordinarily candid insight into paul keating. While theres plenty of fodder for political boffins, what makes this book special is watsons character study of australias prime minister from 1991 1996, paul keating. Guy wilmotaap those who write the best nonfiction know that truth is always a far better. Don watson began his literary career an academic historian, but soon moved on to political satire and speechwriting. In 1992 he became prime minister paul keating s speechwriter and adviser and his bestselling account of those years, recollections of a bleeding heart. Don watsons books, articles and essays have been widely acclaimed. Jun 01, 2019 it was keating who said with exocet pejorative intent at the launch of watsons 2002 book about the former pm, recollections of a bleeding heart, that the writer had the inclinations of a bat. In 1992 he became prime minister paul keatings speechwriter and adviser and his bestselling account of those years, recollections of a bleeding heart. Death sentence by don watson penguin books australia. His quarterly essay, rabbit syndrome australia and america won the alfred deakin essay prize. May 29, 2002 don watson, former speechwriter for paul keating, has addressed the national press club about his new book on his experiences with the former prime minister. It was keating who said with exocet pejorative intent at the launch of watsons 2002 book about the former pm, recollections of a bleeding heart, that the writer had the inclinations of a bat. Buy recollections of a bleeding heart 10th anniversary edition by don watson 9781742751993 from boomerang books, australias online independent bookstore.
This is the text of a speech given by prime minister paul keating at the australian war memorial, canberra, on remembrance day, 1993. Keating has disputed watsons authorship, saying the speech developed out of dozens of conversations between them. Don watsons recollections of a bleeding heart paul keating prime minister, won the age book of the year and nonfiction prizes, the brisbane courier mail book of the year, the national biography award and the australian literary studies associations book of the year. Keating is the author of twenty five inspector ghote titles including a short story collection with a biography of the inspector, the life and times of inspector ghote. The 756 pages overwhelm ones sense of history, policy analysis and political assessment. He wrote three books on australian history before turning his hand to tv and the stage. On august 31, the book that won five major literary awards will be. Paul keating prime minister, won the age book of the year and nonfiction prizes, the brisbane courier mail. His bestselling titles include recollections of a bleeding heart. Since watson generally keeps the partisanship to a minimum, and focusses more on process than politics, it is one of the few books which will appeal to both supporters and opponents of keating, as well as to. A truly compelling read, recollections of a bleeding heart is more akin to a greek tragedy than a political memoir. It was keating who said with exocet pejorative intent at the launch of watson s 2002 book about the former pm, recollections of a bleeding heart, that the writer had the inclinations of a bat. Recollections of a bleeding heart 10th anniversary edition.
We do not know this australians name and we never will. In many ways the watson book was a greater calamity for paul. Published 2003 by vintage book random house first published 2002. Recollections of a bleeding heart based on the diaries watson kept through the four turbulent and exhausting years of keatings prime ministership is a frank, sympathetic and engrossing portrait of this brilliant and. Don watson is perhaps the most celebrated speechwriter in modern australian politics, bestknown for his book on paul keating, recollections of a bleeding heart. Don watson collected writings trybooking australia. In 2002, keating s former speechwriter and adviser, don watson, published recollections of a bleeding heart. He compares keating at one point to don quixote, at another to ned kelly. He wrote political satire for the comedian max gillies, and then became speechwriter for prime minister paul keating. Too often, the focus is on don watson, his thoughts and reflections, his selfamplified contributions and achievements, rather than a document of the life and times of paul keating, prime minister and. Don watson collected writings don watsons books, articles and essays have been widely acclaimed. Don watson, former speechwriter for paul keating, has addressed the national press club about his new book on his experiences with the former prime minister. Winner of the national biography award 2003, the courier mail book of the year 2002, the age book of the. See all books authored by don watson, including american journeys, and a single tree, and more on.
The book first drew criticism from keating s estranged wife, annita keating, who said that it understated her contribution, a complaint watson rejected. Not that watsons book is a traditional political biography. Based on the diaries watson kept through the four turbulent and exhausting years of keating s prime ministership, on its release recollections of a bleeding heart was widely deemed a masterpiece. Review of don watson, recollections of a bleeding heart. The collected thoughts of don watson better reading. Don watson books list of books by author don watson. Listen to keatings speech 6m text of prime minister paul keatings speech at the funeral service of the unknown australian soldier. Paul keating prime minister, which won the age book of the year and nonfiction prizes, the brisbane courier mail book of the year, the national biography award and the australian literary studies associations book of the year. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Keating himself was so unhappy with the book that it. Recollections of a bleeding heart by don watson overdrive. Humour and politics, just when we didnt think they go together paul has proven us wrong. Watson was born in 1949 at warragul in the gippsland region of victoria, and grew up on a farm in nearby korumburra.
Dons most recent book is bendable learnings 2009, a successor to death sentence and weasel words. Though trained in history rather than economics and generally regarded as a bleeding heart liberal he became a close advisor and friend. Tim lows acclaimed where song began won general nonfiction book of the year, beating a stellar list of nominees including don watson, helen garner and annabel crabb. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. Paul keating and don watson s friendship was forged and ultimately destroyed by words. Don watson is an awardwinning author and former speechwriter for paul keating.
Paul keating prime minister, which won the age book of the year and nonfiction prizes, the brisbane courier mail book of the year, the national biography award and the australian literary studies associations book of the year, death sentence, which won the. Don watson is one of australias most distinguished writers. There are passages in the book so good they demand to be read aloud. Don watson, the author and former speechwriter for paul keating. After reading don watsons recollections of a bleeding heart i finally have some context for what i saw and heard that night as well as insights into much else about one of our most perplexing, frustrating, paradoxical and charismatic prime ministers. Paul keating prime minister, won the age book of the year and nonfiction prizes, the brisbane courier mail book of the year, the national biography award and the australian literary studies associat. Paul keating prime minister, won the age book of the year and nonfiction prizes, the brisbane courier mail book of the year, the national biography award and the australian literary studies associations book of the year. The invasion of management speak don watson youtube. Speechwriter and author don watson doesnt mince words and expects some readers of his new book about the bush wont either. Paul keating and don watsons friendship was forged and ultimately. Don watson author of recollections of a bleeding heart. He spoke about his desire to write something for general readers his earlier work on identifying a new lizard species probably only interested around 20 people worldwide.
May 19, 2010 at the perth writers festival author and former speechwriter for australian prime minister paul keating don watson sits down with philosopher ac grayling to discuss how language is evolving. From birds to love letters, imagined apologies, mindnumbing managementspeak, oscar wilde, anzac day, strange people. His bestselling account of his time as paul keatings speechwriter, recollections of a bleeding heart, won several awards, as did his 2008 release american journeys. A great little book focused on humor and straight shoot talking from one of our most colorful leaders in the history of australian politics, paul keating. Australia and america won the alfred deakin essay prize. Oct 03, 2014 speechwriter and author don watson doesnt mince words and expects some readers of his new book about the bush wont either. While theres plenty of fodder for political boffins, what makes this book special is watson s character study of australias prime minister from 1991 1996, paul keating. Recollections of a bleeding heart by don watson the longest decade by george. A portrait of paul keating pm, american journeys, the bush, the quarterly essay enemy within. In 2002, keatings former speechwriter and adviser, don watson, published recollections of a bleeding heart.
Famously employed as paul keatings speechwriter, don watson reflects on ten years since the publication of his acclaimed biography, recollections of a bleeding heart. May 26, 2015 tim lows acclaimed where song began won general nonfiction book of the year, beating a stellar list of nominees including don watson, helen garner and annabel crabb. Paul keating and don watsons friendship was forged and ultimately destroyed by words. Booktopia don watson books on the booktopia don watson. American politics in the time of trump and there it is again, a collection of his writing. Recollections of a bleeding heart by don watson readings. It is at once a groundbreaking inside account of politics and a profound and extraordinarily. Recollections of a bleeding heart 10th anniversary edition kindle edition by watson, don. An academic historian for a decade he went freelance in the 1980s to write satire for the great comedian and political impersonator max gillies.
Paul keating prime minister, which won the age book of the year and nonfiction prizes, the brisbane courier mail book of. The first half of this book is the best, as watson chronicles the productive and successful first few years of keatings rule. Don watson don watson is an awardwinning author and former speechwriter for paul keating. Jan 23, 2015 famously employed as paul keatings speechwriter, don watson reflects on ten years since the publication of his acclaimed biography, recollections of a bleeding heart. Don watsons recollections of a bleeding heart noel turnbull. Jun 08, 2002 after reading don watsons recollections of a bleeding heart i finally have some context for what i saw and heard that night as well as insights into much else about one of our most perplexing, frustrating, paradoxical and charismatic prime ministers. Interview with don watson abc news australian broadcasting. At the perth writers festival author and former speechwriter for australian prime minister paul keating don watson sits down with philosopher ac grayling to discuss how language is evolving. Paul keating and don watson at the launch of recollections of a bleeding heart in 2002. Hardcover book published by knopf 2002, 756 pages with a few black and white photographs.
110 1434 359 233 1033 1559 856 642 988 1550 626 1366 1120 1615 1140 698 1192 999 1538 907 1338 508 1555 752 678 474 377 1328 64 220 1215 367 1582 1409 870 311 968 1312 217 762 535 1329 1126 896 1227 1428 653 1434 705