Charles Todd's Magnificent Obsession: The epic race to connect Australia to the world

— —

David Dufty

Charles Todd's Magnificent Obsession

The epic race to connect Australia to the world

David Dufty

Double Rewards

$34.99

Paperback

In stock
Ready to ship

QTY:

English

Allen & Unwin
01 September 2024

Biography: historical, political & military; History; Australasian & Pacific history

Earn $10 Reward Vouchers

It was the greatest feat of engineering in nineteenth-century Australia, but it very nearly collapsed in the face of monumental obstacles.

The year was 1870, and mail took six weeks to get to England by sea. Australians hungered for the speedy communication a telegraph connection would bring. Engineer Charles Todd promised that he could string up wires on poles from Adelaide over 3,000 kilometres to an undersea cable in Darwin harbour in just eighteen months. It was a wild gamble that became an epic race against time.

This is the extraordinary story of the building of the Overland Telegraph. Three teams of workers crossed deserts, mountains, and rivers in flood, following the rough maps that John McDouall Stuart had brought back from his final expedition. They encountered Aboriginal people who had never seen a European, and battled crocodiles, mosquitoes, mysterious illnesses and starvation. Drawing on original letters and journals, historian David Dufty has uncovered never-before-published details about this groundbreaking project.

This is a tale of obsession and heroism, violence and tragedy, and above all, it's a totally compelling yarn.

'A gripping story' - David Hill

'A tale of endeavor and perseverance' - Roland Perry

'Meticulous research and Dufty's monster writing skills shape a cracking retelling of Charles Todd's race to stretch a single strand of telegraph wire across 3000km of remote Australia from Port Augusta to Darwin' - Glenn Morrison

'A good read, and speaks of the man and his team, illustrating the talents of a rare achiever' - Mac Benoy

By: David Dufty
Imprint: Allen & Unwin
Country of Publication: Australia
Dimensions: Height: 234mm, Width: 153mm,
Weight: 433g
ISBN: 9781761471353
ISBN 10: 176147135X
Pages: 368
Publication Date: 01 September 2024
Audience: General/trade , ELT Advanced
Format: Paperback
Publisher's Status: Active

David Dufty is an historian and researcher. He is the author of Nabbing Ned Kelly; The Secret Code Breakers of Central Bureau, winner of the 2017 Nib Military History Prize; and of Radio Girl, winner of the Best Non-fiction, 2020 ACT Notable Awards.