Queensland Academy of Arts and Sciences

A revealing, funny read for anyone interested in how the media works

‘A marvellous ability to take us back in time to where nostalgia meets reality’

Brilliantly witty...a wonderfully innocent, beguiling book

Hugh Lunn writes of his Brisbane suburban childhood with great feeling and affection. It’s a book that had me roaring with laughter…a warm, witty and amusing remembrance.

Searingly funny account of growing up in a working-class family in 1950s Australia…holds a special place in the heart of thousands of Australians and that has made Hugh Lunn a national treasure.

‘Can one really be so blessed with a Fred and Olive for a Mum and Dad?’

Fletcher's romantic liaisons, flirtations with the rich and famous ... make for a rollicking read

“An embarrassing book to read in public. I defy you to read it without laughing out loud.”

“Hugh has provided us with a large number of candid insights into his formative years, even some scarifyingly brutal insights. I’m impressed by the number of occasions when the notion of impure thoughts is mentioned… It’s an affectionate, slightly wistful, and embarrassingly accurate account of the way I remember growing up.”

A universal story about growing up.

‘Without a doubt the most instructive, emotional, enlightening and ironic book on Rupert Murdoch’

A beautiful evocation of childhood. Don’t miss reading Over the Top with Jim. It’s one of the funniest most moving autobiographies around.

When I read your books I return to another world.

“A triumph for Australian publishing.”

Think Russell Crowe in tennis whites

One of the best political books produced in recent years

Reading The Great Fletch, I could smell the gum leaves.

A glittering gem of a memoir.

" Very funny and irreverent…a classic."

‘Powerful, sensitive and often poignant account of young adulthood in the ’60s’

‘Sometimes scarifyingly brutal’

“A wonderful, wonderful read. It takes pride of place in my house. I’m a very proud Australian and the things that that book covered, it was me. And I’m sure a lot of people saw themselves in all the things described. It was all very, very true.”

‘Has written truly about the Vietnam War. Even the lies are true’

‘Ken Fletcher was the James Bond of the tennis world. Think Russell Crowe in tennis whites’

‘Ranks with some of the best expository prose of recent years in this or any other country’