{"product_id":"flawed-hero-by-chris-masters-9781761069819","title":"Flawed Hero","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003eNow With a New Epilogue Bringing the Story Up to Date\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eChris Masters is joint winner of the 2023 Walkley Honour for Media Freedom for his investigation of the Ben Roberts-Smith story.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWinner of the Australian Political Book of the Year Award 2024\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eShortlisted for the Anzac Memorial Trustees' Military History Prize in the NSW Premier's History Awards 2024\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eShortlisted for the Victorian Premier's Literary Awards 2024\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eWith a Victoria Cross and Medal for Gallantry, Ben Roberts-Smith was the most highly decorated Australian soldier, the best of the best. When he returned to civilian life, he became a poster boy for a nation hungry for warrior heroes. He embodied the myth of the classic Anzac, seven-foot-tall and bulletproof. But as his public reputation continued to grow, inside the army rumours were circulating.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eGold Walkley Award winning journalist Chris Masters was the first to investigate the rumours of summary executions, bloodings and bullying, and began to examine more closely the man we wanted to hero-worship. When the stories hit the headlines, and with a billionaire media baron's backing, Ben Roberts-Smith sued. So commenced the defamation trial of the century, a courtroom contest of tightrope tactics and fierce wit, which Ben Roberts-Smith lost.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eChris Masters tells the extraordinary story of Ben Roberts-Smith, from the battlegrounds of Afghanistan to the frontlines of the Federal Court trial that established on the balance of probabilities he committed war crimes.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e'For those who believe unquestioningly in the ANZAC spirit, this book offers an important corrective - hero worship must not be blind.' - \u003ci\u003eSydney Morning Herald\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e'A controversial and sobering story, Masters' long search for any truth behind rumours of alleged war crimes by war hero Ben Roberts-Smith VC MG in Afghanistan, and the defamation trial which followed, is unprecedented in our military history.' - \u003ci\u003eDenise Carlyon\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e'Powerful, passionate and often moving narrative' - \u003ci\u003eInside Story\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e'An account of reporters taking on the legal system, the political establishment and much of the Australian media and - against those almost impossible odds - somehow emerging with the story' - \u003ci\u003eThe Saturday Paper\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e'If there was a Victoria Cross for bravery in journalism, Chris Masters deserves to receive it.' - \u003ci\u003ePhillip Adams\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e'War has always been the stuff of myth-making from the Anzacs to the present day. \u003cem\u003eFlawed Hero\u003c\/em\u003e shakes the blind beliefs of those who unquestionably only see what they want to see - a war hero.' - \u003ci\u003eThe Conversation\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e'There's seriously no one else in Australia with the knowledge that Chris Masters has in relation to Australian Special Forces in Afghanistan.' - \u003ci\u003eFormer Commando Major\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Allen \u0026 Unwin","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46849130365164,"sku":"9781761069819","price":45.0,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/28085133482814.jpg?v=1759020415","url":"https:\/\/bookhero.pro\/products\/flawed-hero-by-chris-masters-9781761069819","provider":"Book Hero","version":"1.0","type":"link"}