Monash: The fascinating life of the WWI soldier who shaped modern Australia from the bestselling award winning author of THE REMARKABLE MRS REIBEY by Grantlee Kieza

Stunning trade paperback edition of Grantlee Kieza’s bestselling biography of Australia’s greatest general

It’s December 1918 and the world war is over. General Sir John Monash attends a glittering banquet to dine with the King of England and the likes of Woodrow Wilson, Winston Churchill and Rudyard Kipling. Just four months earlier, the commander of the Australian Corps had been knighted in a battlefield, a long way from the streets of Melbourne where this son of a long line of Polish rabbis had grown up. Field Marshal Montgomery would declare decades later that Monash was the best general to serve on the Western Front. How had this notorious ladies’ man, who harboured private thoughts about the futility of war and had never fired a shot in anger, come to be feted by the British establishment as well as his countrymen back home? In this essential biography of a most unlikely folk hero, Grantlee Kieza paints a lively portrait of an outsider who shaped modern Australia through his energy, drive and ambition, his military brilliance and his vision.

PRAISE FOR GRANTLEE KIEZA OAM

‘Engagingly written … one of the most nuanced portraits to date’ — The Australian

‘Vivid, detailed and well written’ — Daily Telegraph

‘A staggering accomplishment that can’t be missed by history buffs and story lovers alike’ — Betterreading.com.au

‘A free-flowing biography of a great Australian figure’ — John Howard

‘Clear and accessible … well-crafted and extensively documented’ — Weekend Australian

‘Kieza has added hugely to the depth of knowledge about our greatest military general in a book that is timely’ Tim Fischer, Courier-Mail

‘The author writes with the immediacy of a fine documentary … an easy, informative read, bringing historic personalities to life’ — Ballarat Courier

About the Author: Grantlee Kieza OAM is an award-winning journalist and the highly acclaimed, bestselling author of more than twenty biographies. Kieza held senior editorial positions at The Daily Telegraph, The Sunday Telegraph and The Courier-Mail for many years and was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia for his writing. He is a Walkley Award finalist, a 2025 ABIA shortlisted author for Biography of the Year, a 2025 Indie Award shortlisted author for Non-fiction, the No. 1 history author in Australia in 2024, and the author of national bestsellers Mr and Mrs Gould, Sister Viv, Flinders, The Remarkable Mrs Reibey, Hudson Fysh, Lawson, Banks, Macquarie, Banjo, Mrs Kelly, Monash and Bert Hinkler.

01 Aug 2016
 

Monash: The fascinating life of the WWI soldier who shaped modern Australia from the bestselling award winning author of THE REMARKABLE MRS REIBEY by Grantlee Kieza ISBN 9780733333545