Official Website of the Author
Doug Limbrick
WELCOME
You have found the website of Australian author Doug Limbrick.
On the pages of this website you will find details of my books, discussion about areas I am researching, the views of those who have reviewed my books and chat about upcoming events.
You might also like to sign up for my newsletter or buy a book at a better price than in bookshops.
You will also find some information about marathon running and because I am a keen photographer and collect vintage cameras you may occasionally see one from collection.
Many of my books are about nineteenth century emigration to theAustralian colonies and often tell stories about people who travelled half way around the world in cramped conditions on board small sailing ships seeking a better life in the Australian colonies.
Each month I feature one of my books. This month the focus is on Death Ships, a story about the gold rush in 1851, the desperate need for more immigrants and the involvement of six very big ships. I am particularly focussing on this book because of the large number of great reviews it's had on Goodreads recently. If you would like a copy I am selling it as part of a promotion for $20 (postage included) and you can also have another one of my books for half price.
BOOKS
Click on each book cover to see a summary
My books are available from book shops, online books stores including Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Ingram Spark, or buy direct from me & save.
To access more information on some of the books hover curser over "Books" in the tool bar at the top & additional pages can be selected
$15
iincluding
postage
$25
including
postage
$25
including
postage
RUNNING THE MARATHON WITH CANCER
$8
including
postage
A GUIDE TO
RUNNING YOUR FIRST
MARATHON
FAREWELL TO OLD ENGLAND FOREVER
FROM THE WARS
OF THE ROSES TO COLONIAL VICTORIA
THE STAG
DIARY
A CHURCH WITH
NO WALLS
LATEST BOOKS
$25 incl
postage
Another nomination for Death Ships
Buy Direct & Save
$25.00
incl postage
Good to see that my book on colonial artist S.T. Gill is receiving favourable comments and a nomination for an award.
Death Ships has been nominated for four awards
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See below for reviews & click on 'Books' in the top control bar for more information about the book.
Latest Book News
If you are new to my website this is where I place brief notices of new book developments and events, more details are provided elsewhere on the website. I value reader feedback and suggestions about subjects that you feel I might like to write about.
Potato Famine Orphans
My book about the rescue of orphan girls from Irish workhouses during the Irish Famine should be out by the end of the year. These orphan girls were saved from starvation and possible death and brought to the Australian colonies (1848-50). They faced difficulties and prejudice but through determination became important members of colonial Australia.
Like a copy - pre-order with me
info@douglimbrick.com
(For a longer description click on 'Projects & Research' in the tool bar at the top)
Death Ships
Just had another good 5/5 review of Death Ships.
I found the title of this book particularly compelling. It deepened my understanding of emigration to the Australian colonies. Doug offers a well-researched and thought-provoking account. Readers with an interest in history, ships, or the gold rush will find this book especially engaging.
Reviewed by -readers choice - full review on Goodreads -https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/7592132992
Colonial Artist S.T. Gill
Its been very pleasing to see a number of very positive reviews on Goodreads in the last couple of months such as the one by Catherine reads:
Colonial Artist S.T. Gill is both a biography and a social history, told with an eye for detail and respect for its subject. Limbrick does an excellent job highlighting Gill’s role as a chronicler of the Australian colonies—from his early sketches of Adelaide’s streets to his iconic depictions of the goldfields. 5/5
Matthew Flinders
My book on Matthew Flinders is nearing completion. It's been a long process of research and writing and I now have a complete manuscript which has recently been sent to my editor. For more information click on 'Projects and Research' at the top tool bar.
Book Launch : Colonial Artist S.T. Gill
Newsletter
My third newsletter for 2025 is now out. If you would like to be on the mailing list send me your email address (info@douglimbrick.com).
Book Specials
I am expecting more copies of my book: The Stag Diary - Passage to Colonial Adelaide 1850. Like a copy from my existing stock at half price $13 post free.
Buy any two of my other books and it will be post free.
Send me an email (info@douglimbrick.com) and I will have them in the post the next day.
REVIEWS
“
The Stag Diary
'Includes an important transcript of Francis Taylor's diary from his passage on the Stag in 1850 to South Australia. One of very few diaries written by steerage class passengers travelling to the Australian colonies in the nineteenth century. The book sets the scene with details of life on sailing ship, details of the vessels and conditions in SA in 1850'.
“
Farewell to Old
England Forever
It was fascinating to read about the motives that prompted people to leave their homeland and travel such a vast distance, enduring extreme hardship only to land in what must have been a totally alien environment.
By Steve,
BAWLEY POINT NSW
“
Running the Marathon
with Cancer
A great story of courage, hope and joy, which is told with brutal honesty at times but with passion and positive belief. Compulsive reading for all runners and those who love a story of how self belief can overcome just about everything.
By Richard, CANBERRA
My books have been reviewed many times, a selection can be found below. For a larger selection go the Goodreads or Amazon.
By RETRAC,
AMAZON CUSTOMER REVIEW
Death Ships
“A work of veritable integrity and valued history that needed to be recorded concisely and honestly. A great piece of work…”
Richard
Indiebook Reviewer.
“
Death Ships
Great review in the Canberra Weekly by Jeff Popple on 21 October 2021.
See full text of review - just click on 'Books' in the menu bar at the top and then click on Death Ships.
Death Ships
More great reviews from The Canberra Times and the Bendigo Adveriser on Saturday 20 November 2021.
Death Ships
Another great review posted on Goodreads by Sassy Reviews.
To see click on the link:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6937917488
“
Farewell to Old
England Forever
I’m giving this book 5 out of 5 stars. It was well-written, well-researched, has pristine formatting and editing, and contains beautiful illustrations/photos/painting. This book is of high quality! I highly recommend it to readers who would like to feed their knowledge of the fascinating history of the Australian emigration.
“
By Shey Saints,
Amazon & Facebook
Farewell to Old England Forever
I think most people view 19th-century emigration to Australia as a tale of criminals sent to the end of the earth, but it’s much more interesting than that. This lushly researched book conveys the full story, from the reasons why people resettled, the means, the vessels, and finally the extraordinary 13,000-mile voyage itself. For passengers it could be a nightmare of disease, seasickness, stench, and death, and for the crew, geographic disorientation, gales, icebergs – and, on approaching Australia, reefs where hundreds of ships foundered. This is a great work. It put me right there.
Robert Delft - posted on Amazon June 9, 2022.
Running the Marathon with Cancer
Another 5 Star Review
Out of five, this incredible book merits a perfect rating for its original, simple and amazing presentation. I recommend it to cancer patients as bibliotherapy. Other readers of inspirational books will also find this book a great source of encouragement. Through reading about Doug's hope, perseverance and optimism, and eventual resolve to become a marathoner again, readers will be encouraged to always fight on despite the odds that are against them in life.
“
REIGN GODDESS
See the full review on Goodreads:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3837726875
For the Video on Running the Marathon with Cancer go to Youtube:
https://youtu.be/tPqJxm1oCLc?si=KD3UaEwdhqnhbcsd
Colonial Artist S.T. Gill
Inspired and culturally relevant to the past and present of this country. Brilliant..
Dianna, Readalot Magazine
I always appreciate receiving comments on my books. Send an email to me:
info@douglimbrick.com
Death Ships
I recommend it to lovers of History... This excellent text merits the maximum rating of five out of five stars.
Hellen Huini, 26 December 2021.
Full review on Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4410645136
“
Death Ships Movie now on You Tube
BIO
At work in the study
At the wheel of the S S Great Britain in Bristol, one of the vessels featured in my book: Farewell to Old England Forever.
Ship Shackamaxon, featured in Death Ships
I am a graduate of the Australian National University, Canberra. I worked for many years providing social policy advice to the Commonwealth government and participated in a number of national enquiries and evaluations, as well as having a number of appointments to national and international bodies. For my pioneering work on data collection and evaluation, I was awarded an Australia Day Medal. I have had many journal articles, monographs and reports published on various social issues.
I have a particular interest in nineteenth century Australian history, especially the story of those people who emigrated from the United Kingdom to the Australian colonies. In my writing I try to combined my expertise in social issues with my work on exploring the circumstances of people who sought a better life in the colonies in the nineteenth century. As a consequence I spend lots of time searching for and examining the stories of those who emigrated, seeking to understand their experiences, the reasons for their decision to emigrate, the difficulties they faced, the outcome of their passage and the vessels that carried them to the Australian colonies.
As a result I have written several books exploring nineteenth-century emigration issues, processes, experiences and stories. My book Farewell to Old England Forever is a comprehensive study of the complete story of nineteenth century emigration. A recent book Death Ships is a sad story about some 5000 emigrants who departed for the colonies in six big ships seeking a better life.
I am a member of the Australian Association for Maritime History.
I am also a keen runner and have been involved in running activities including club administration for many years. I have completed 27 marathons and some 60 half marathons and have also competed in many cross country and mountain running events for the past 35 years. My Guide to Running Your First Marathon draws directly on my personal experience. The book Running the Marathon with Cancer is a personal story that combines my passion for running with dealing with rectal cancer. While not writing or running I am a very keen photographer and also an enthusiastic collector of vintage cameras. As a historian vintage cameras offer for me a sense of time.
Kodak Brownie 6 Folding c.1937
Leica IE c.1938
Kodak Six-20 Brownie Junior c. 1934
CONTACT
For any inquiries, to send me any comments or to purchase books please contact me at: info@douglimbrick.com
I can be found on:
Facebook:
http://facebook.com/douglimbrick
Linkedin:
http://linkedin.com/in/douglimbrick
Pinterest:
pinterest.com/56ab372f269acae6a891a828aa0552
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