Overview

An Attractive Naivety is a historical novel of war, identity, and endurance, set against Australia's first half-century as a nation. At the dawn of the twentieth century, Australia is newly federated - ambitious, proud, and unsure of itself. The novel traces that coming of age through the lives of ordinary people caught up in extraordinary events. From plague-stricken Sydney to the battlefield of Palestine, from the Cowra Breakout to the building of the Sydney Harbour Bridge, it follows the pressures that shaped both private lives and public myths. Fictional characters move alongside real figures and documented events. David Gormley-O'Brien turns his attention away from the usual centres of power to the margins that sustained the country - ratcatchers and tram drivers, nurses and labourers, unionists and returned soldiers. These are lives rarely foregrounded, yet essential to the national story. Their struggles are practical and human. A young widow raises a child after the plague. A family is divided by class, shame, and loyalty. A boy knits socks for soldiers while his brother avoids the front. A nurse, inspired by Florence Nightingale, becomes a prisoner in a Japanese internment camp deep in the jungle. A labourer risks his life on the Harbour Bridge to feed his family. A tram-driver returns from war carrying the weight of his role as a guard during a violent mass breakout. Grounded in careful research and rendered with close attention to period detail, the novel examines the contradictions of nation-building - idealism and inequality, duty and prejudice, pride and grief. Language and attitudes are presented as they were, without modern varnish, but with care. For readers of serious historical fiction, An Attractive Naivety offers a measured, intimate portrait of Australia in the making, and of the people who bore its costs. Revised Edition (2026) with maps and images.

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9781764199124

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Reviews

A thoroughly enjoyable and educational read, there is no better way to learn about historical events than through the stories of people who experienced them. David has written a historically accurate and engaging account of events that have shaped our country. The way the characters lives' are intertwined and impacted throughout the novel keeps the reader engaged and enraptured (yes, I kept sneaking ahead to see what would happen). This would be a fabulous Australian history novel for students and for anyone wanting to immerse themselves into our past. If you liked A Town Like Alice...you will like this even more! - Lisa A moving multi-generational story spanning from the early to mid 1900s, with the characters experiencing some of the major milestones of the times. I cried, I laughed and learned a whole lot about Australian modern history along the way. I absolutely loved it. - Samantha David Gormley-O'Brien brings History to life. As a ""War Baby"" I was brought up with a Grandfather who served in WWI and a father who served in WWII. Neither wanted to talk about their war service. Reading well researched historical accounts of the Great Wars is informative but David's conversion of well researched history into fiction conveys an actual feeling of the lived experience of families affected by war service. - Tom I love it when a writer weaves historical events into the lives of believable characters in a way that engages the reader, rather than coming across as a history lesson! The multi-generational characters in An Attractive Naivety brings to life some little-known facts in Australia's history, and highlighted the strength and resilience of the people during those difficult times. I particularly enjoyed learning about Kathleen Butler's role in the building of the Sydney Harbour Bridge, and what an inspiration she became to women both in Australia and in England. The book was well-paced, rich in detail and a pleasure to read. - Linda

Author Information

Dr David Gormley-O'Brien is a writer and historian based in Woodend, Victoria, where he lives with his partner, Sara, on a smallholding with geese, ducks and chickens, a dog named Mavis, and a bossy cat called Franklin.He enjoyed a long career as a university lecturer in the history of ideas and religions in Late Antiquity. After completing his Doctor of Philosophy at the University of Oxford in 2005, his research focused on ancient philosophical and religious conventions of self-sufficiency and friendship.In recent years, David's work has turned to the human aftermath of war, migration, and national identity. Through historical fiction, he explores how the upheavals of the early and mid 20th century shaped the ways everyday Australians understood themselves and others.When not researching and writing, David enjoys being in his garden and maintaining his >50 year old Land Rover. He is also a keen advocate for renewable energy, electric vehicles (bikes and cars), and climate change mitigation and adaptation. He served four years as president of the Macedon Ranges Sustainability Group and was named Macedon Ranges Citizen of the Year in 2022. He currently serves as a volunteer Board Director of the Macedon Ranges Community Enterprises (Community Bank - Gisborne and District, a franchise of Bendigo Bank).

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