Overview

""From the sweltering battlefields of the South Pacific to the devastated cities of Europe, Alan Moore witnessed the greatest war in human history—not with a rifle, but with a paintbrush."" As an official war artist with the RAAF, Moore was sent deep into the action, capturing history as it unfolded. He documented the brutal Japanese counterattack at Los Negros Island, the perilous missions of airmen dodging flak over Eastern Europe, and the harrowing reality inside one of Nazi Germany’s most infamous concentration camps. With his camera, sketchbook, and oil paints, he recorded not just battles, but the human cost of war—the exhaustion, the fear, the destruction, and the small moments of resilience that defined a generation. Yet despite his remarkable body of work, Alan Moore remains one of Australia’s forgotten artists. His paintings, raw and unfiltered, serve as powerful reminders of the horrors of war, ensuring that the sacrifices of those who served are never lost to history. Through meticulous research and rare archival materials, Drawing Hell unearths the story of a man whose work still hangs in some of the world’s most prestigious museums and galleries. Moore’s life spanned a century of conflict, change, and artistic evolution, yet his story has remained largely untold—until now. In this gripping account, historian John Morthen brings Moore’s legacy back into the spotlight, revealing how his art shaped the way we remember war. For those who believe history should never be forgotten, Drawing Hell is an essential read.

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9781923300712

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John Morthen is a passionate historian dedicated to preserving and sharing Australia’s military past. Based in Sydney, he specialises in early to mid-20th-century conflicts and the pre-Federation era, bringing forgotten stories to life through meticulous research and immersive storytelling. A graduate of the University of Canberra with a degree in Heritage and Museum Studies, John has spent years working in Sydney’s most respected museums, including the Anzac Memorial in Hyde Park, where he served as a researcher, and the Liverpool Regional Museum. His commitment to history extends far beyond Australia—his research has taken him to historic battlefields and archives across Western Europe, the United States, South Korea, and Japan. John’s debut book, Drawing Hell: The Life of Australian War Artist Alan Moore, is the result of nearly four years of dedication, uncovering the extraordinary story of a man who documented war through art. With a deep reverence for the past and a talent for uncovering untold narratives, John is fast becoming a leading voice in Australian military history.

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