Apollo & Thelma : a true tall tale / Jon Faine.
Publication details: Richmond, Victoria : Hardie Grant Books, 2022.Description: 373 pages, 8 unnumbered pages of plates : illustrations (some colour), 1 map, portraits ; 24 cmISBN:- 9781743797082
- Apollo and Thelma
- Faine, Jonathan
- Anderson, Paul Alexander McPherson
- Hawks, Thelma Cecilia
- Faine, Jon (Jonathan)
- Hawks, Thelma
- Anderson, Paul
- Business enterprises -- Northern Territory
- Hotelkeepers -- Northern Territory -- Biography
- Circus performers -- Australia -- Biography
- Inheritance and succession -- Australia
- Brothers and sisters -- Biography
- Bodybuilders -- Australia -- Biography
- Bodybuilders
- Brothers and sisters
- Hotelkeepers
- Business enterprises -- Australia -- Northern Territory
- Bars (Drinking establishments) -- Australia -- Northern Territory
- Hotelkeepers -- Australia -- Northern Territory -- Biography
- Bars (Drinking establishments) -- Northern Territory
- Strong men -- Australia -- Biography
- Hotelkeepers -- Australia -- Biography
- Brothers and sisters -- Australia -- Biography
- Melbourne (Vic.) -- History -- 20th century
- Australia
- Northern Territory
- Australian
- 920 23
Item type | Home library | Collection | Call number | Status | Date due | Barcode | Item reserves | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Book | Melbourne Athenaeum Library | Biography | 920 FAI | Available | 064015 |
Includes bibliographical references.
Apollo and Thelma is the astonishing true story of Thelma and her brother Paul, 'The Mighty Apollo'. Their twisting tales take author and broadcaster Jon Faine from Melbourne's depression-era slums to the harsh, unforgiving landscape of the Australian outback. Jon revisits the feats of Apollo, a strongman of yesteryear, who sought the spotlight - and legend status - in becoming the world's strongest man (performing amazing feats of strength that included pulling trams with his teeth, having an elephant stand on him, and being run over by cars), while Thelma, an enigmatic presence, travelled to the remote reaches of the Northern Territory to become the pioneering female publican of the infamous 'Wanda Inn', selling grog to anyone who could pay. But this is far more than just a remarkable yarn. Immersing himself in Apollo and Thelma's lives, Jon uncovers true tales that are compelling, confronting, and sometimes too sad to believe. Via the improbable and circuitous route of these two originals - alongside a cast of other extraordinary characters - Jon has to reckon with his own story, his own history and Australia's past, present, and future.