{"product_id":"9780857988126","title":"The Hero Maker: A Biography of Paul Brickhill","description":"Author: Dando-Collins, Stephen\u003cbr\u003eISBN: 9780857988126\u003cbr\u003ePublisher: RANDOM HOUSE AUSTRALIA\u003cbr\u003eYear first published: 29 Aug 2016\u003cbr\u003ePages: 416 \u003cbr\u003eFormat: Paperback \/ softback\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eThe Dam Busters\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eThe Great Escape\u003c\/i\u003e and \u003ci\u003eReach for the Sky\u003c\/i\u003e were all written by Paul Brickhill, an Australian hero of WWII. 2016 marks the 100th anniversary of his birth and the 25th anniversary of his death.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eThe Dam Busters\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eThe Great Escape\u003c\/i\u003e and \u003ci\u003eReach for the Sky\u003c\/i\u003e were all written by Paul Brickhill, an Australian hero of WWII. 2016 marks the 100th anniversary of his birth and the 25th anniversary of his death.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIt was 1956 and the writer from Sydney's lower North Shore had every reason to feel blessed. Former journalist Paul Brickhill was the highest-earning author in the UK and two of his bestselling books - \u003ci\u003eThe Dam Busters\u003c\/i\u003e and \u003ci\u003eReach for the Sky\u003c\/i\u003e - had recently been made into blockbuster films. Another of his books - inspired by his experiences as a prisoner of war in Stalag Luft 3 in Germany during the Second World War - was attracting Hollywood interest. That book was \u003ci\u003eThe Great Escape\u003c\/i\u003e.\u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003eYet, life for the enigmatic Brickhill was never simple. He was beset with mental-health issues and his marriage to model Margot Slater was tempestuous. He struggled with alcohol and writer's block too, as his success - and all that accompanied it - threatened to overwhelm him. \u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003eIn \u003ci\u003eThe Hero Maker\u003c\/i\u003e, award-winning historical author and biographer Stephen Dando-Collins exposes the contradictions of one of Australia's most successful, but troubled, writers. Brickhill's extraordinary story - from the youth with a debilitating stutter to Sydney \u003ci\u003eSun\u003c\/i\u003e journalist to Spitfire pilot and POW to feted author - explodes vividly to life on the centenary of his birth.","brand":"Print on demand - Ships in 1 to 3 months","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48312752275614,"sku":"UBD-9780857988126","price":34.78,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0400\/9043\/5742\/files\/9780857988126.jpg?v=1790069150","url":"https:\/\/classicbargains.com.au\/products\/9780857988126","provider":"Classic Bargains Australia","version":"1.0","type":"link"}