Cirrus@Austlit

'Fire in the Head addresses a deep taboo in Australian society- the legacy of child sexual abuse and what victims must endure to bring perpetrators to justice.

'Part crime drama, part coming-of-age tale, part modern psychological odyssey, Oakman's novel is a gripping, unsettling and powerful story about self-discovery, the importance of friendship and the transcendent power of words. Fire in the Head addresses a deep taboo in Australian society- the legacy of child sexual abuse and what victims must endure to bring perpetrators to justice.

'In March 1999, twenty-seven-year-old James Harper, a shy public servant living in Canberra, is called to a police station to provide evidence on the suicide of his youngest sister nine years earlier. As the investigation gets underway, James confesses that he had been abused by his stepfather, Martin Jenkins, when he was a child. Could the two events be connected? But as he dives headfirst into the legal system in a quest for justice, James must face some disturbing truths about himself and the past he thought he had left behind.'  (Publication summary)

'This book tells the story of the cyclists who were overcome by the need to venture forth on two wheels; the courageous men and women who undertook some of the most epic bicycle journeys of all time.

'Wild Ride reminds us of a thrilling period of exploration all but forgotten in the age of the motorcar. Daniel Oakman takes us on a rich ride through the 130 years of Australian cycling; from the overlanding heroes of Arthur Richardson and Francis Birtles, to the lesser known but no less amazing feats of Jerome Murif, Ted Ryko and Joe Pearson, through to modern-day bikepacking trailblazers such as Kate Leeming, Tegan Streeter and Tom Richards. Celebrity riders are here too; from the historic icons of Hubert 'Oppy' Opperman, Wendy Duncan and Shirley Law, to the more recent triumphs of actor Sam Johnson and his audacious quest to ride a unicycle 15,000 kilometres around the country.

'You will be astounded by their journeys, retold here with sparkling clarity. Be inspired for your next pedal powered adventure.'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

'Hubert 'Oppy' Opperman was a sporting icon, a cycling phenomenon whose epic feats of endurance captivated the cycling world. For over two decades, he dominated almost every race he entered and shattered record after record in Australia and Great Britain. In 1928, he led the first Australasian team to ever contest the Tour de France.

'But Oppy was more than a just a champion. During the Great Depression, a time of painful economic and social change, he became a transcendent symbol of Australian fortitude. He became a household name, a legend - as popular as the cricketer Don Bradman and the racehorse Phar Lap.

'Until now, Oppy has never been the subject of a complete biography.

'By peeling away decades of mythology, Daniel Oakman tells Opperman's story like never before. As well as vividly retelling his sporting triumphs, this book is the first to consider the legacy of Opperman's post-cycling career. It explores the emotional pain of his private life, the controversies that dogged his seventeen-year political career, including his post as Immigration Minister in the Menzies Government and the remarkable and far-reaching changes he helped bring to Australian immigration policy.

'This meticulously researched biography gives readers a thrilling insight into the brutal world of professional cycling and an intimate portrait of an extraordinary Australian.'(Publication summary)