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A Very Rude Awakening

The night the Japanese midget subs came to Sydney harbour
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( 65 ratings, 14 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
A Very Rude Awakening by Peter Grose delves into a gripping historical account during World War II, focusing on a little-known attack on Sydney Harbour by Japanese midget submarines. The book explores the tension and dramatic events of this clandestine mission, revealing the vulnerability and surprise experienced in Australia’s own waters. It combines meticulous research with vivid storytelling to recount this remarkable episode in military history.
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

You might enjoy this book if you are intrigued by engaging wartime narratives and the impact of military events on ordinary lives. It delves into the dramatic, lesser-known aspects of World War II, blending historical accuracy with compelling storytelling that brings the past to life.

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In May of 1942, the war seemed very far away to most Sydneysiders - until the night the three Japanese midget submarines crept into the harbour and caused an unforgettable night of mayhem, high farce, chaos and courage. A ground-breaking look at one of the most extraordinary stories of Australia at war.

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

Peter Grose has a natural ability to tell a good yarn and the story of the Japanese subs that slid into Sydney Harbour in 1942 is about as good as any Aussie yarn can get... a great retelling of a great story.
The Sydney Morning Herald

On the night of 31 May 1942, Sydney was doing what it does best: partying. The theatres, restaurants, dance halls, illegal gambling dens, clubs and brothels offered plenty of choice to roistering sailors, soldiers and airmen on leave in Australia's most glamorous city. The war seemed far away. Newspapers devoted more pages to horse racing than to Hitler.

That Sunday night the party came to a shattering halt when three Japanese midget submarines crept into the harbour, past eight electronic indicator loops, past six patrolling Royal Australian Navy ships, and past an anti-submarine net stretched across the inner harbour entrance. Their arrival triggered a night of mayhem, courage, chaos and high farce which left 27 sailors dead and a city bewildered. The war, it seemed, was no longer confined to distant desert and jungle. It was right here at Australia's front door.

Written at the pace of a thriller and based on new first person accounts and previously unpublished official documents, A Very Rude Awakening is a ground-breaking and myth-busting look at one of the most extraordinary stories ever told of Australia at war.

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

Peter Grose's A Very Rude Awakening is praised for its engaging narrative and storytelling prowess, particularly in narrating the dramatic events surrounding the entry of Japanese submarines into Sydney Harbour in 1942. The book is celebrated for offering a compelling account of this historical moment while maintaining a vibrant, accessible tone.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781760633301

Publisher: Allen & Unwin

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 24 April 2018

Country: Australia

Imprint: Allen & Unwin

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 25.0mm

Width: 130.0mm

Height: 198.0mm

Weight: 330g

Pages: 328

About the Author

Peter Grose is a former publisher at Secker + Warburg, founder of Curtis Brown Australia, and was until recently the chairman of ACP (UK). He is the author of An Awkward Truth published by Allen + Unwin in 2009.

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  • 1942: the year the war came to Australia
    Grose's compassionate, honest and vivid account deserves to be widely read. Sun Herald on An Awkward Truth About as good as any yarn can get . . . a great retelling of a great story. Sydney Morning Herald on A Very Rude Awakening Originally published as the best-selling An Awkward Truth and A Very Rude Awakening The bombing of Darwin...
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