Join us at Berkelouw Books Mona Vale for the chance to hear two historians talk about one of the greatest Australian survival stories never told in full – until now. Garry Linnell's, "Buckley's Chance" is a journey into a turning point in early colonial history where cultures clash, bitter rivals go to war and the body count mounts. In conversation with Will Davies, Garry will introduce the story of William Buckley, an English soldier convicted of stealing two pieces of cloth, sentenced to death, then transported to Australia instead. But within months of arriving at the first penal colony in Philip Bay in 1803, Buckley had escaped. Everyone thought he was dead, until one winter’s day, 32 years later, he suddenly reappeared dressed in kangaroo skins, carrying a spear and with a wild mane of long hair. It took the first white settlers in Melbourne some time to understand him because after three decades in the wild he had forgotten the English language.

Slowly Buckley's story began to unfold, an astonishing tale of how he had been adopted by a tribe of aboriginals. They believed he was the ghost of a warrior who had just died. They took him in, fed him and began to teach him their customs and their laws. He learned how to hunt and live off the land. He watched their battles with other tribes and saw a generation grow up to become old.

No other white person has ever been immersed in aboriginal culture like Buckley. No other person in recorded history has spent more time with indigenous people. But it turns out Buckley’s greatest battle of survival took place when he returned to so called white civilisation.

Garry Linnell is one of Australia’s most experienced journalists. Born and raised in Geelong, he has won several awards for his writing, including a Walkley for best feature writing. He has been editor-in-chief of The Bulletin, editor of The Daily Telegraph, director of news and current affairs for the Nine Network and editorial director of Fairfax. He spent four years as co-host of the Breakfast Show on 2UE and is also the author of three previous books - ‘Football Ltd: The inside story of the AFL’; ‘Raelene: sometimes beaten, never conquered’ and ‘Playing God: The rise and fall of Gary Ablett’.

Dr Will Davies is a historian, documentary film producer and the author of nine books, including "Beneath Hill 60" and "The Last 100 Days".