Blessed
The Breakout Year of Rampaging Roy Slaven
Published on 27. July 2022
Book
Paperback/Softback
304 pages
978-0-7336-4891-5 (ISBN)
Description
Who is Rampaging Roy Slaven? An Australian icon, a raconteur, an athlete of unsurpassable - and some may say improbable - sporting feats. Whether training Rooting King to another Melbourne Cup victory, commentating the Olympics or hobnobbing with the country's upper crust, Rampaging Roy Slaven has lived an extraordinary life.
But even some of the greatest men come from humble beginnings. Before he shot to fame as Australia's most talented sportsman, he was just another kid in Lithgow, trying to avoid Brother Connor's strap and garner the attention of Susan Morgan from the local Catholic girls school.
Blessed follows one year in the life of the boy who would become Rampaging Roy Slaven, a boy who, even at the age of fifteen, knew he was destined for greatness - but had to get through high school first.
'beautifully surprising' The Guardian
'Doyle shows that his use of language is almost as skillful as that of Slaven's ability on any sporting field' Canberra Times
But even some of the greatest men come from humble beginnings. Before he shot to fame as Australia's most talented sportsman, he was just another kid in Lithgow, trying to avoid Brother Connor's strap and garner the attention of Susan Morgan from the local Catholic girls school.
Blessed follows one year in the life of the boy who would become Rampaging Roy Slaven, a boy who, even at the age of fifteen, knew he was destined for greatness - but had to get through high school first.
'beautifully surprising' The Guardian
'Doyle shows that his use of language is almost as skillful as that of Slaven's ability on any sporting field' Canberra Times
Reviews / Votes
A thoroughly enjoyable book, there are many layers to this story of Roy Slaven's breakout year. * ACT [PRINT], Canberra Times, [AUDIENCE: 21,094, ASR: AUD 8,800] * Review * NSW, VIC [PRINT], The Saturday Age & Sydney Morning Herald, [AUDIENCE: 386,260, ASR: 18,981] *More details
Language
English
Place of publication
Sydney
Australia
Dimensions
Height: 197 mm
Width: 127 mm
Thickness: 22 mm
Weight
210 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-7336-4891-5 (9780733648915)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
E-Book
07/2021
Hachette Australia
€3.99
Available for download
Person
John Doyle is one of Australia's finest writers for stage and screen. His work spans the theatrical success of The Pig Iron People for the Sydney Theatre Company and Vere (Faith) for the State Theatre Company of South Australia, to the small screen acclaim of series such as Changi, Marking Time and Two Men and a Tinnie for the ABC.
He created the character of Roy Slaven in 1985, for ABC radio station Triple J. Since 1986, Roy has appeared alongside H G Nelson on various television series, including Club Buggery, The Channel Nine Show, Win Roy and H G's Money, The Dream, The Monday Dump, The Ice Dream, The Cream, The Dream in Athens and The Memphis Trousers and the long-running Sunday afternoon radio sports program This Sporting Life on Triple J.
In 2010, John was made a Member of the Order of Australia for his services to entertainment and as a supporter of charitable organisations such as the United Nations Children's Fund in Australia. John is Patron and a life governor of Autism Spectrum Australia.
He created the character of Roy Slaven in 1985, for ABC radio station Triple J. Since 1986, Roy has appeared alongside H G Nelson on various television series, including Club Buggery, The Channel Nine Show, Win Roy and H G's Money, The Dream, The Monday Dump, The Ice Dream, The Cream, The Dream in Athens and The Memphis Trousers and the long-running Sunday afternoon radio sports program This Sporting Life on Triple J.
In 2010, John was made a Member of the Order of Australia for his services to entertainment and as a supporter of charitable organisations such as the United Nations Children's Fund in Australia. John is Patron and a life governor of Autism Spectrum Australia.