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Outback Heart  By  cover art

Outback Heart

By: Joanne Van Os
Narrated by: Joanne Van Os
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Editorial reviews

The story of Rod Ansell, the "real-life Crocodile Dundee", is one of adventure, romance, and tragedy. Here, Joanne van Os recalls her life with this mercurial man - more than a testosterone-fueled cattle wrangler, Rod was thoughtful, articulate, and an engaging storyteller. The two met amid the media frenzy that followed Rod’s two-month plight of survival in the Outback, during which time Ansell battled crocodiles and ate feral cattle. The couple built a life together, raising two sons amid the heat and dust of the Outback, but their marriage dissolved as Rod’s deep-seated troubles became increasingly apparent. Joanne’s performance betrays her insistence that she "never gave up" on Rod. Recounting their time together, Joanne’s dust-tinged voice reveals feelings of joy, excitement, regret, frustration, and loving devotion.

Publisher's summary

This is the story of the real Crocodile Dundee, a gripping biography jam-packed with adventure, romance, and misery.

Joanne van Os was just 22 when she met Rod Ansell. At 23, Rod was already a legend in Australia and around the world, having survived alone for two months without supplies in one of the harshest and most remote parts of northern Australia.

But Joanne came to realize that Rod was both a complicated and deeply troubled man. His life ended in tragedy - out of his mind on drugs, Rod became involved in a shoot-out in which a young police officer was killed.

Outback Heart captures the Territory life vividly: the dust, the heat, the struggle, and the larger-than-life characters. But it's also a deeply moving and powerful story of a love affair and a marriage, and the pain of it falling apart.

©2005 Joanne Van Os (P)2006 Bolinda Publishing Pty Ltd.

Critic reviews

"Beautifully written, with a flow that takes hold and never let's go...mesmerizing. One of the biographies of the year." ( Australian Women's Weekly)

What listeners say about Outback Heart

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Amazing - Well worth the read.

Was reccomended this book by my fellow truck driver who also does the Brissy to Darwin run weekly and I seriously couldn't stop listening. well done Jo, what a strong woman you are retelling this challenging story. Will be sure to reccomend. Cheers, Sarah.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Mesmerizing!!!

I could NOT stop listening to this audiobook. I felt as though I was along for the adventure. Joanne Van Os is an incredible writer. I felt their highs and lows almost as intensely as they did. I LOVE Australia and have visited 3 times and greatly admire anyone that can endure the harshness of the Outback. WOW!!!!!

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