After World War II, Reg Beck buys The Crown Hotel, then one of 72 pubs in Bendigo, 12 of which were within 300 metres. In the days before motels, his wife Madge manages the accommodation side of the business catering for many important VIPs including County and Supreme Court judges. Their children Max (aka 'Mickey'), then aged four, and his sister Zelda, five and a half, are engulfed by the hotel environment leading to exciting adventures, close shaves, trouble, funny times as well as sorrow and miscellaneous other benefits and detriments. The narrative describes challenging schooldays at Gravel Hill State in the 1950s and Bendigo High in the 1960s, the market town nature of Bendigo and its old-fashioned shops in the 1950s and some remarkably colourful characters of the time.
When Mickey joins the new cohort of 'teenagers' in the 1960's Rock 'n' Roll era, there is a possibility of trouble with a capital T!
The book is a rollicking tale written with an eye for the detail of history. Author, Max Beck, is a retired Magistrate and Coroner. Funny, challenging, potent and profoundly tragic, discover the boyhood influences that would shape a man determined to improve others lives through the law.
Show moreAfter World War II, Reg Beck buys The Crown Hotel, then one of 72 pubs in Bendigo, 12 of which were within 300 metres. In the days before motels, his wife Madge manages the accommodation side of the business catering for many important VIPs including County and Supreme Court judges. Their children Max (aka 'Mickey'), then aged four, and his sister Zelda, five and a half, are engulfed by the hotel environment leading to exciting adventures, close shaves, trouble, funny times as well as sorrow and miscellaneous other benefits and detriments. The narrative describes challenging schooldays at Gravel Hill State in the 1950s and Bendigo High in the 1960s, the market town nature of Bendigo and its old-fashioned shops in the 1950s and some remarkably colourful characters of the time.
When Mickey joins the new cohort of 'teenagers' in the 1960's Rock 'n' Roll era, there is a possibility of trouble with a capital T!
The book is a rollicking tale written with an eye for the detail of history. Author, Max Beck, is a retired Magistrate and Coroner. Funny, challenging, potent and profoundly tragic, discover the boyhood influences that would shape a man determined to improve others lives through the law.
Show moreAfter graduating with two law degrees and practising for many years as a barrister and solicitor, Max became a Magistrate and Coroner. As a child, raised in the Crown Hotel, he had little supervision, functioning at times on the fringe of the law as a promising juvenile delinquent. Fortunately, he was never caught by the cops. His book is a collection of tales embracing a narrative romp of his life as a young boy growing up in central Bendigo. They are all true and will grab your attention, entertain, inform and make you laugh or cringe.Writing skills have always formed an important part of Max's life in the law. This is his second book. His first was A Different Earth, a true story of a pioneering widow who walked over land, with six children, from South Australia to the Victorian diggings in the 1850s, published by Cornwall Editions with an introduction by Professor Philip Payton, Flinders University, Adelaide, Australia.
SOME REVIEWS:
"I'm sure MGM would like to buy the rights to your book - it was
very funny!" Madge Nicholas, Bendigo Vic.
"You have created a great piece of work that is still fresh, funny,
moving and extremely interesting to so many people...You don't have
to have a connection with Bendigo to enjoy this book. It is a truly
great read as was his first book, A Different Earth." Bernadette
Sheehan, Bendigo, Vic.
" Just finished reading your very engaging book... I found it quite
captivating. I congratulate you on this very valuable piece of
writing which is not only your personal history, but a wonderful
description of the social history of the times. I think it would be
a great asset to the secondary school reading curriculum." Denise
Peterson, Strathfieldsaye.
"A great read that brought back many memories of Bendigo." Jon
Race, Melbourne Vic.
"I really enjoyed the read. I did get a laugh from it but also felt
so sad for the boy/teenager and his sister who pined for a "normal"
family life. Interesting facts in history of the times in Bendigo."
Diane Vorwerk, Werribee Vic.
"Your anecdotes bring Bendigo's history, and that era, to life. It
is a very entertaining read...There are five reservations by
borrowers waiting to read your book." Wayne Parry, Senior
Librarian, Goldfields Library Corporation, Bendigo Vic.
"Max has a unique style of writing which draws in the reader and
you feel as though you are a silent observer watching as the
situations and events unfold... Max recounts many humorous
occurrences... I can highly recommend this book to any potential
reader. Gary Cleverdon, Geelong Vic. "Just finished your book and
enjoyed reading it immensely. Thank you so much." Marie Harrison,
Bendigo, Vic. "It's a fascinating story, it's a very interesting
insight into your life, It's entertaining and I enjoyed it. It will
certainly have broad appeal." Dean Nelson, Melbourne Vic.
"I have enjoyed reading your book immensely over the last few days,
and wish to thank you for going to the trouble of writing it...
With your incredibly detailed accounts, I found it fascinating
having some idea of the amount of changes possible in the space of
only one generation....The matter of fact style in which the book
is written does you credit." Brendan Wright, Bendigo, Vic.
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