Fishing For Stars by Bryce Courtenay

An epic tale of enduring love and lifelong friendship set in the Pacific in the aftermath of WWII.

Nicholas Duncan is a semi-retired shipping magnate who resides in idyllic Beautiful Bay in Indonesia, where he is known as the old patriarch of the islands. He is grieving the loss of his beautiful Eurasian wife, Anna, and is suffering for the first time from disturbing flashbacks to WWII, the scene of their first meeting and early love. His other wartime lover is the striking Marg Hamilton, a powerful and influential political player in Australia who has remained close to Nick.

Marg suspects Nick is suffering the onset of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and organises for a specialist to meet with him in Sydney. But when they meet, Tony Freedman stirs long-buried emotions in Nick and the two men don't hit it off. Nick leaves in an explosion of anger and finds himself in hospital after being hit by a car. Tony visits and encourages Nick to write as a form of therapy - to write about Anna.

So he sets about writing about the woman who has inspired him since his late teens, and in doing so draws us into the compelling tale of the life he has lived post war-hero days building a shipping empire, navigating international corruption, supporting his wife's third-world education crusade and loving the women who inspire him.

Bryce Courtenay

Reviews

“ The wait is over. ”

Sunday Tasmanian

“ More epic human spirit stuff from Oz's best of the bestsellers. ”

Geelong Advertiser

“ Thrilling. ”

Gold Coast Bulletin

“ A sweeping yarn about passion. ”

Daily Telegraph

“ Such well-researched historical and cultural detail creates a vivid, believable world, and we're also led ... into the internal lives of some colourful, well-drawn characters ... just the right level of intellectual and emotional stimulation for a relaxing holiday read. ”

Sunday Age

“ Fishing for Stars has, at its heart, two passionate, unforgettable – but very different – women. One is exotic, damaged and shrewd, the other beautiful, determined and zealous. ”

Sunday Telegraph

Paperback

9780143011347

January 4, 2010

Penguin

612 pages

RRP $24.95
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Hardback

9780670072743

November 11, 2008

Viking

602 pages

RRP $49.95
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EBook

9781742281926

August 3, 2009

Penguin eBooks

608 pages
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