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  • Girt

  • The Unauthorised History of Australia, Volume 1
  • By: David Hunt
  • Narrated by: David Hunt
  • Length: 6 hrs and 43 mins
  • 4.2 out of 5 stars (2,325 ratings)

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Girt

By: David Hunt
Narrated by: David Hunt
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Publisher's Summary

Girt. No word could better capture the essence of Australia....

In this hilarious history, David Hunt reveals the truth of Australia's past, from megafauna to Macquarie - the cock-ups and curiosities, the forgotten eccentrics and Eureka moments that have made us who we are.

Girt introduces forgotten heroes like Mary McLoghlin, transported for the crime of "felony of sock", and Trim the cat, who beat a French monkey to become the first animal to circumnavigate Australia.

It recounts the misfortunes of the escaped Irish convicts who set out to walk from Sydney to China, guided only by a hand-drawn paper compass, and explains the role of the coconut in Australia's only military coup.

Our nation's beginnings are steeped in the strange, the ridiculous, and the frankly bizarre. Girt proudly reclaims these stories for all of us.

Not to listen to it would be un-Australian.

©2013 David Hunt (P)2015 Audible, Ltd

Critic Reviews

"A sneaky, sometimes shocking peek under the dirty rug of Australian history." (John Birmingham)
"Hilarious and insightful - Hunt has found the deep wells of humour in Australia's history." (Chris Taylor, The Chaser)

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What listeners say about Girt

Average Customer Ratings
Overall
  • 4 out of 5 stars
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  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars
  • Jen
  • 30-11-2016

A terrible performance and annoying content

What disappointed you about Girt?

I'm Australian so I am fine with listening to Australian accents, but the reader (and author) is just horrible to listen to.

It's like listening to the token "Aussie Larakin" character from a dodgy 80's movie. Choice of language and stupid impersonations are just charmless and really unpleasant to listen to.

The book promises a quirky and well thought out approach to Australian history and delivers a barrage of crappy impersonations, blatant racism and dick jokes.

Has Girt put you off other books in this genre?

Yep. I'm going to give a wide berth to any history work that claims to be "irreverent", "hilarious" or "unauthorised"

How did the narrator detract from the book?

A narrator without charm or warmth. Like drunk uncle Trev who thinks he's a bit of a card cornering you with a crap story at Christmas.

If you could play editor, what scene or scenes would you have cut from Girt?

I'd remove the flat jokes, racism, and general smart-arsed commentary. Give me quality history writing not a stand up routine!

Any additional comments?

I SOOOO wanted to like this but I just can't.

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25 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

True Blue History of Australia - Addicted

This is the greatest history of Australia I've ever read. I used to think Australian history was bland and uneventful, but I was dead wrong - little did I know that I was soon to come into contact with this TRULY GREAT HISTORY. It has piqued my interest in the history of my forefathers. Although this book is selective in its content, it is thought provoking, hilarious, irreverent and is uniquely Australian in its storytelling. It also highlights parallels between Australia's European founding & contemporary issues. I have enjoyed every minute of this audiobook, I don't think I have ever found a book as truly funny as this one.

David Hunt's narrating only further adds to the quality of the story. He does humorous accents, has a conversational manner and brings extra life to this already lively book.

I will definitely listen to this again and again! I am watching and waiting for his coming sequel to this book - and will snap it up as soon as it is made into an audiobook!.


15/15 !!!

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21 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Too many dad jokes!

Great informative content but unfortunately not narrated well and peppered with unnecessary (an unfortunately not funny) jokes after almost every sentence!! Why?! This could have been so good but instead my wife and I got 2 hours in and couldn't listen any longer

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13 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Tries to hard

Some very interesting facts although it tries too hard to be funny. Would have been better without the joke per sentence delivery.

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8 people found this helpful

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

Self Centred Drivel

Shallow humour, tacky effects, so low brow I got angry. Ethnocentric clap trap. Even thought it was free I deleted it. Moronic.

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7 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars

couldn't look past the cringeworthy racist accents

I was looking forward to this audiobook however I could only get through about 25 mins before I had to stop. The impressions of various accents were really offensive and just unnecessary. im disappointed I couldn't continue with this audiobook. Perhaps you could consider a new narration without the accents.

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6 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars
  • Jim
  • 26-11-2016

Accents unnecessary.

Underneath the relentless sarcasm and terrible foreign accents there is some really interesting historical content.

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6 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Entertaining and informative

It is not a hard hitting analysis. Rather, it's chronology of light fluff. It's an enjoyable frolic through Australian colonial history.

I did find that in listening too long at one time, the sarcasm and dry ironic wit became a little tiresome. However, dipping in and out was good fun and offered a few lol moments.

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6 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

who knew?

Australian history could actually be interesting? After the years of torment at school learning the boring stuff, oh god please not more tedious explorers, nobody bothered to tell us that the personalities behind this were actually interesting, mostly scandalous, strong willed individuals. Pirates, traitors, self serving corrupt public servants. I was hooked from the start. I am always dubious about the author reading, but either exception of a few dodgy accents, I enjoyed David Hunt's reading. highly recommended.

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6 people found this helpful

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

cut to the chase

having had a long and dull exposure to australian history as a child and student, this fresh take on history draws a full canvas of the absurd and follisome antics of early european "discovery" and settlement of terra australis, a true antipodean view. great fun.

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5 people found this helpful

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.