

In Black and White
Herald Sun
From alleyway gangsters to cold war spies to eccentric entrepreneurs, Australian history is full of colourful but forgotten characters. Host Jen Kelly talks with experts, historians and yarn spinners to uncover the untold stories of some of our most interesting and offbeat ancestors.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Jun 12, 2024 • 23min
A very tangled birthright: Part 2
During World War I, Letitia Leake may have looked like a proper and patriotic English lady. But her childhood - half a world away - was a saga of alleged murder, infidelity, bigamy and corruption. Professor Carol Grbich, co-author of The Accidental Heiress, joins the show with more. To order the book, visit www.adelaidebooksellers.com.au Like the show? Get features, backgrounders and more at: heraldsun.com.au/ibawSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jun 10, 2024 • 25min
A very tangled birthright: Part 1
During World War I, Letitia Leake may have looked like a proper and patriotic English lady. But her childhood - half a world away - was a saga of alleged murder, infidelity, bigamy and corruption. Professor Carol Grbich, co-author of The Accidental Heiress, joins the show with more. To order the book, visit www.adelaidebooksellers.com.au Like the show? Get features, backgrounders and more at: heraldsun.com.au/ibaw See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jun 6, 2024 • 35min
How Mad Dog Morgan went from hero to villain: Part 2
Before Ned Kelly, the bushranger that most struck fear into the hearts of lawmen was Dan Morgan. And while he started out as a champion of the downtrodden, Morgan became increasingly unhinged and dangerous, and was once named the most bloodthirsty ruffian that ever took to the bush. Historian Aidan Phelan joins the show with more. More on Phelan's research and books: https://aguidetoaustralianbushranging.com/ Like the show? Get features, backgrounders and more at: heraldsun.com.au/ibawSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jun 3, 2024 • 38min
How Mad Dog Morgan went from hero to villain: Part 1
Before Ned Kelly, the bushranger that most struck fear into the hearts of lawmen was Dan Morgan. And while he started out as a champion of the downtrodden, Morgan became increasingly unhinged and dangerous, and was once named the most bloodthirsty ruffian that ever took to the bush. Historian Aidan Phelan joins the show with more. More on Phelan's research and books: https://aguidetoaustralianbushranging.com/ Like the show? Get features, backgrounders and more at: heraldsun.com.au/ibawSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

May 29, 2024 • 33min
A high-wire act for poor Mabel Worley: Part 2.
Running away to join the circus has been the quixotic goal of many the bored teenager. But by the time Mabel Worley took that path, her life was anything but ordinary. Corinne Ball, senior curator at the History Trust of South Australia, joins the show to tell the tale.More about Corinne's book at:https://scholarly.info/book/three-ring-circus/Like the show? Get features and more at heraldsun.com.au/ibawSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

May 27, 2024 • 31min
A high-wire act for poor Mabel Worley: Part 1.
Running away to join the circus has been the quixotic goal of many the bored teenager. But by the time Mabel Worley took that path, her life was anything but ordinary. Corinne Ball, senior curator at the History Trust of South Australia, joins the show to tell the tale.More about Corinne's book at:https://scholarly.info/book/three-ring-circus/Like the show? Get features and more at heraldsun.com.au/ibawSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

May 20, 2024 • 29min
The hanging judge's Plan B
Redmond Barry is best known for sending Ned Kelly to the gallows. But he never would have sat in judgement if it wasn't for some poor judgement of his own. State Library Victoria librarian Andrew McConville joins the show to tell the tale of Barry's torrid love affair at sea, and how it changed the young lawyer's life.Like the show? Read more at heraldsun.com.au/ibawSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

May 13, 2024 • 52min
A macabre act of betrayal
WARNING: DISTURBING CONTENT. When George Augustus Robinson was employed as the Chief Protector of Tasmania's Aboriginal people, he proclaimed he was there to 'do good' for the indigenous population. Instead, he took from the very people who had already had everything taken from them. Cassandra Pybus joins the show with more. Note: This episode contains graphic descriptions relating to the deaths of indigenous people. Learn more about Pybus's book, A Very Secret Trade: The dark story of gentlemen collectors in Tasmania, at https://www.allenandunwin.com/browse/books/9781761066344See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

May 6, 2024 • 45min
The Butcher of Fromelles
He was dubbed the most unpopular AIF commander of World War I, thanks to a series of bungles and mismanagement. But was James McCay mad, bad, or just another hapless officer caught in the slaughter of the trenches? Military historian Mat McLachlan joins the show to discuss.More on Mat's work at: https://battlefields.com.au/Like the show? Go to heraldsun.com.au/ibaw for more See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Apr 29, 2024 • 46min
The man who reinvented the Australian home
Before TV, social media and the internet, Australians turned to magazines to help define their style.And for 43 years William Shum was one of the titans of print who showed modern Australians how to dress themselves - and the places they lived.Now his granddaughter, author Sue Walker, joins the show to recount his colourful life.More about the book here. Like the show? Get features, backgrounders and more at heraldsun.com.au/ibawSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.


