{"title":"Tony Matthews","description":"\u003cp\u003eTony Matthews offers a rich tapestry of stories that span history, military intrigue, and human drama. His works often explore the shadows of the past, from the harrowing realities of war to the tales of courage and survival, inviting readers to step into worlds both familiar and hidden. Whether through gripping narratives of espionage or deeply personal biographies, Matthews brings history vividly to life.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eReaders can expect a blend of engaging general fiction and well-researched historical accounts, often infused with moments of poignancy and subtle humour. His storytelling balances the solemn with the spirited, creating a compelling journey through times and tales that resonate beyond their pages.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"cloaked-in-bravery-by-tony-matthews-9781923004276","title":"Cloaked in Bravery","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eExperience the extraordinary journey of a woman who risked everything to follow her man into battle in a desperate attempt to rescue him from the death that inevitably beckoned. Christian, driven by an unwavering devotion to her missing husband, cast aside her comfortable life, family, and even her children to venture into the heart of battle.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eDisguised as a man, a common foot-soldier, Christian embraced the chaos and carnage of European history's bloodiest conflicts. With a fiery spirit and indomitable courage, she fought alongside men, facing musket-fire, swords, and cannonballs, all in a quest to ensure her husband's survival. Her rollicking good humour, captivating charm, and steely-eyed determination endeared her to comrades and enemies alike.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eChristian's selflessness knew no bounds. Despite enduring grave wounds, she refused to be deterred, persevering through unimaginable pain. She embodied the strength of a man and the passion of a woman, fearlessly aiding wounded comrades on the battlefield, regardless of the peril she faced.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eUnveiling a hidden gem of military history, \u003cem\u003eCloaked in Bravery\u003c\/em\u003e reveals the compelling tale of a remarkable woman whose devotion and valour transcended the confines of gender. Prepare to be captivated by Christian Davies, as her story unveils a love so powerful it defied all odds.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Arotahi Agency","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46626983510252,"sku":"9781923004276","price":35.0,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/9781923004276_6b0f85f2-53b2-49e9-8b5f-c19650b09085.jpg?v=1751935007"},{"product_id":"spies-saboteurs-and-secret-missions-of-world-war-ii-by-tony-matthews-9781922615732","title":"Spies, Saboteurs and Secret Missions of World War II","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhat kind of courage does it take for an ordinary married couple to confront the Nazi regime of Hitler’s vicious Third Reich?\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eAnd why did two men betray their fellow secret agents after landing on American shores with the intention of carrying out sabotage attacks on a massive scale?\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eWhy did the Germans murder more than two hundred and sixty innocent men in retaliation for a botched Resistance attempt to steal a simple truckload of meat?\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eFrom technical wizardry that goes disastrously wrong, to underwater warfare with a sting in its tail, this new book by Tony Matthews delves into a wide range of top-secret stories, including black propaganda missions, calamitous Resistance operations, and accounts of espionage activities at the very highest level.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eSpies, Saboteurs and Secret Missions of World War II\u003c\/em\u003e is a fascinating insight into some of the most astonishing clandestine activities of the Second World War.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Arotahi Agency","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46655898484972,"sku":"9781922615732","price":35.0,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/14568443482872.jpg?v=1752475126"},{"product_id":"tragedy-at-evian-by-tony-matthews-9781922387356","title":"Tragedy at Évian","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn July 1938, the United States, Great Britain, and thirty other countries participated in a vital conference at Évian-les-Bains, France, to discuss the persecution and possible emigration of the European Jews, specifically those caught under the anvil of Nazi atrocities. However, most of those nations rejected the pleas then being made by the Jewish communities, thus condemning them to the Holocaust.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThere is no doubt that the Évian conference was a critical turning point in world history. The disastrous outcome of the conference set the stage for the murder of six million people. Today we live in a world defined by turmoil with a disturbing rise of authoritarian governments and ultra right-wing nationalism. The plight of refugees is once more powerfully affecting public attitudes towards those most in need. Now, on the 75th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz and the end of the Second World War, it’s time to reflect on the past to ensure we never again make the same mistakes.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003eTragedy at Évian\u003c\/i\u003e also shines a spotlight on some of the astonishing and courageous stories of heroic efforts by individuals and private organisations who, despite the decisions made at Évian, worked under extremely dangerous conditions, frequently giving their own lives to assist in the rescue of the Jewish people.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Arotahi Agency","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46657360167148,"sku":"9781922387356","price":36.0,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/12284683482872.jpg?v=1752485197"},{"product_id":"cafe-puccini-by-tony-matthews-9781923144798","title":"Café Puccini","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eYou’ll fall in love with every single character\u003c\/i\u003e — Hayley Mills\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eWhat happens when a quirky Australian town faces the imminent arrival of a huge fiery comet? Do the residents embrace all possibilities or run like hell?\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eWARNING, WARNING, WARNING\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eCactus Bob, a grizzled pensioner in a red beanie, thought surviving a death-roll by a monster saltwater crocodile was tough. But now he faces an even more devastating challenge: strange messages are arriving via his clapped-out black-and-white TV, warning of a fiery comet hurtling toward his tiny cottage on the outskirts of Wellsprings.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003eCafé Puccini\u003c\/i\u003e, the social hub of the colourful community, is abuzz. Is the comet real or just another zany publicity stunt dreamt up by Ah Sow, the town’s crafty trader? Will Angelo, the café owner, reunite with the wife he had somehow 'misplaced' thirteen years earlier? How did a lucky Zulu millionaire and his mysteriously 'top-secret' Norwegian wife become tied to all the comet chaos, and why is a crusty old Scottish boat-builder crafting a unique monument to the stars?\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eAs the comet draws closer, secrets unravel, alliances form, and tensions rise. Join Wellsprings’ oddball residents as they navigate love, cosmic calamities, and outrageous adventures.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003ePrepare for a wild ride filled with colourful characters, unexpected twists, and a mystery that will keep you guessing in this outlandish tale of resilience, eccentricity, and the sheer magic of the bush.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Arotahi Agency","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46670333051116,"sku":"9781923144798","price":35.0,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/19859103482872.jpg?v=1752767334"},{"product_id":"silence-in-the-shadows-by-tony-matthews-9781923300774","title":"Silence in the Shadows","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Moment the World Doomed Six Million to Die.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eIn July 1938, the United States, Great Britain, and thirty other countries participated in a vital conference at Évian-les-Bains, France, to discuss the persecution and possible emigration of the European Jews, specifically those caught under the anvil of Nazi atrocities. 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Now, on the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz and the end of the Second World War, it’s time to reflect on the past to ensure we never again make the same mistakes.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eSilence in the Shadows\u003c\/em\u003e also shines a spotlight on some of the astonishing and courageous stories of heroic efforts of individuals and private organizations who, despite the decisions made at Évian, worked under extremely dangerous conditions, frequently giving their own lives to assist in the rescue of the Jewish people.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\"This account of the failure of the Évian Conference of 1938 to secure a managed and safe emigration of the primarily Jewish populations of Germany and Austria, is a frightening indictment of the ‘refuge nations’ attitude to those peoples.\" – Sandra Miller, NetGallery\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e“Shines a spotlight on some of the astonishing and courageous stories of heroic efforts of individuals and private organisations who, despite the decisions made at Évian, worked under extremely dangerous conditions, frequently giving their own lives to assist in the rescue of the Jewish people.\" – Araciapod.com\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Arotahi Agency","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46845771677932,"sku":"9781923300774","price":41.99,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/5c9a43fe21f3310fc14caad82ee74416.jpg?v=1758965485"},{"product_id":"invisible-by-tony-matthews-9781922896421","title":"Invisible","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhat would it be like to live as a quiet, intensely introverted recluse, hermit, and vegan in a world that likes to party loudly and excessively? What are some of the extraordinary lengths introverts will go to in order to hide, literally, from the rest of the world? What, indeed, is an introvert, or a recluse, and are we perhaps one of them without actually realising it?\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThese and many other thought-provoking questions are answered in this funny, frank, honest, outrageously satirical, and occasionally slightly risqué examination of a world we rarely see and of people who are often almost invisible to the naked eye.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eAuthor and historian Tony Matthews takes us on a hilarious autobiographical journey through the mysterious and, at times, mystic existences of the reclusive and solitudinous vegan, delving into aspects of this strange world where 'invisibility' is a key element, and an intense love of all animal life a driving force.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eInvisible - The Essential Guide for Aliens Stranded on Earth\u003c\/em\u003e is a compassionate and at times deeply immersive experience of another completely different human perspective. Tony Matthews guides us through a compelling and entertaining adventure that will keep you smiling, chuckling, and, at times, laughing outrageously from cover to cover.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Arotahi Agency","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47078801637612,"sku":"9781922896421","price":37.99,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/17375333482872.jpg?v=1765222089"},{"product_id":"convicts-crimes-and-tragic-times-by-tony-matthews-9781923514188","title":"Convicts, Crimes and Tragic Times","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eBehind the birth of a nation lies a brutal, lawless world where crime, punishment, and desperation ruled — and shaped the Australia we know today.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e‘From goldfields to gallows – gripping true stories of crime and survival.’\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eFrom award-winning historian Tony Matthews comes a compelling collection of extraordinary but true stories from Australia’s brutal beginnings — tales of crime, tragedy, and human resilience that shaped a nation.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eAustralia’s early history was forged in hardship and opportunity — and often in violence. The penal colony system, the gold rushes, and the raw fight for survival brought out both the best and the worst in people. In this vivid anthology, Matthews brings to life long-forgotten events and characters whose lives were touched by greed, cruelty, courage, and fate.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eMeet William Bamford, the one-eyed executioner of Old Melbourne Gaol who somehow survived a whipping of three hundred lashes. Discover the bank robber who bungled his crime so badly it could have been comic — had it not ended with him swinging from the gallows. 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Among these were Karel Richter and Theodore John Schurch — two men drawn into espionage by very different paths, but bound by the same fatal outcome.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eOne was sent into England on a single, high-risk mission intended to test the integrity of Germany’s most important London-based agent at a moment when the entire Abwehr network in Britain was under suspicion by the Germans themselves. The other was radicalised at home, recruited by Axis intelligence, and embedded with deadly consequences within the British Army itself, operating in war-torn North Africa and Italy.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eTheir activities exposed the vulnerabilities of wartime security and the power of ideology to turn belief into betrayal. 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