Tall Ships and Tall Tales ― A Life of Dancing With History

Over the last 40 years, Jonathan King has brought history to life, re-enacting events such as the First Fleet’s voyage across the high seas to Botany Bay, the mutiny against ship’s captain William Bligh on the Bounty, Matthew Flinders’ troubled circumnavigation of Terra Australis, Ernest Shackleton’s death-defying dash across the icy waters of the Antarctic Ocean, and Marco Polo’s passage from China. Along the way, King has encountered a cast of mavericks, rogues, entrepreneurs, dignitaries, and politicians—a veritable who’s who of Australia and beyond. These include bushman R. M. Williams, singers Slim Dusty and Helen Reddy, actor Jack Thompson, media magnate Rupert Murdoch, great train robber Ronnie Biggs, explorer Edmund Hillary, boxer Muhammad Ali, Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat, rock star Sting—and even Queen Elizabeth II. So join this bestselling author and historian as he recounts his spectacular adventures: jackarooing on outback stations; trekking the Amazon to meet a remote tribe; sailing the perilous waters of the Atlantic; riding a traditional junk in the South China Sea; being detained by Spanish border guards; and becoming caught in an Antarctic hurricane, just meters from reaching Shackleton’s grave. These extraordinary tales will leave you breathless, dazzled, and inspired by King’s persistence and sheer courage in bringing history to life.

Jonathan King is an award-winning author and historian. He has written 30 historical books, including Great Battles in Australian History, Great Disasters in Australian History, and Great Moments in Australian History, and been published widely in newspapers and magazines. He has also produced and presented numerous film documentaries and television and radio programs.