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The Opera House
The extraordinary story of the building that symbolises Australia the people, the secrets, the scandals and the sheer genius
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The Opera House
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Description
On a sacred site on the land of the Gadigal people, Tubowgule, a place of gathering and storytelling for over 60,000 years, now sits the Sydney Opera House. It is a breathtaking building recognised around the world as a symbol of modern Australia. Along with the Taj Mahal and other World Heritage sites, it is celebrated for its architectural grandeur and the daring and innovation of its design.
But this stunning house on what is now called Bennelong Point also holds many sorrows, secrets, and scandals. In this fascinating and impeccably researched biography, Peter FitzSimons exposes these secrets, marvels at how this magnificent building came to be, details its enthralling history, and reveals the dramatic stories about the people whose lives were affected, both negatively and positively, by its presence. Ambition, dispossession, betrayal, professional rivalry, sexual intrigue, murder, bullying, and breakdowns are woven into the creation of this masterpiece of human ingenuity.
The Opera House shares the extraordinary stories connected to this building that are as mesmerising as the light catching on its white sails.
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?
The Opera House by Peter FitzSimons is praised for being an engrossing and vivid read, offering an insightful exploration into the iconic landmark's history. Reviewers commend FitzSimons for bringing the stories of people involved in its construction, including Utzon, to life, and for providing a unique insight into its social and political impact. His detailed research and compelling narrative style effectively convey the significance of this architectural masterpiece.
Book Details
INFORMATION
ISBN: 9780733641336
Publisher: Hachette Australia
Format: Paperback / softback
Date Published: 30 March 2022
Country: Australia
Imprint: Hachette Australia
Audience: General / adult
DIMENSIONS
Spine width: 44.0mm
Width: 154.0mm
Height: 234.0mm
Weight: 770g
Pages: 592
About the Author
Peter FitzSimons AM is Australia's bestselling non-fiction writer, and for the past 39 years has also been a journalist and columnist with the SYDNEY MORNING HERALD and the SUN-HERALD.
He is the author of a number of highly successful books, including BREAKER MORANT, BURKE AND WILLS, MONASH'S MASTERPIECE, KOKODA, NED KELLY and GALLIPOLI, as well as biographies of such notable Australians as Sir Douglas Mawson, Nancy Wake and John Eales. His passion is to tell Australian stories, our own stories: of great men and women, of stirring events in our history. Peter grew up on a farm north of Sydney, went to boarding school in Sydney and attended Sydney University. An ex-Wallaby, he also lived for several years in rural France and Italy, playing rugby for regional clubs. He and his wife, Lisa Wilkinson AM - journalist, magazine editor and television presenter - have three children; they live in Sydney.Also by Peter FitzSimons
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