The Fatal Friendship: Ned Kelly, Aaron Sherritt & Joe Byrne
Australian History Local History Biography True Crime 19th-Century History Bushranger History Outlaw Legend
The Fatal Friendship: Ned Kelly, Aaron Sherritt and Joe Byrne by Ian Jones is the definitive account of how three young bushrangers from north-eastern Victoria became inseparable mates—and how that bond ultimately sealed their fate. First published in 2003 and now highly sought-after, this 280-page illustrated chronicle pieces together police records, family memories and on-site research to show why Aaron Sherritt’s decision to side with the police detonated the chain of events that ended at Glenrowan. Readers who want more than the Hollywood legend discover the real dynamics of loyalty, fear and betrayal that still echo through Australia’s High Country.
What makes this particular copy collectible is the personalisation: the cover carries an original signature and a small owner sticker, giving the book immediate provenance for Kelly enthusiasts and family historians. Inside, the pages are crisp, unmarked and free of dog-ears, while the generous 235 mm x 170 mm page size showcases the archival photographs, maps and Jones’ own on-the-spot sketches that bring the Stringybark ranges, the sieges and the courtroom dramas to life. Light edge yellowing is the only sign of age, testament to two decades of careful shelving rather than rough handling.
For true-crime collectors, local-history buffs or secondary-school classrooms studying Australian nationalism, this illustrated Hachette Australia paperback remains the most readable yet authoritative entry point to the Kelly outbreak. It sits perfectly alongside Jones’ earlier bestsellers yet stands alone as the volume that finally explains why Joe Byrne’s friendship with both Ned and Aaron made the last stand inevitable. Secure this personalised, well-preserved first edition now—copies in this condition rarely surface in the second-hand market.
Refer to our eBay listing for a full condition report and many more high-quality pictures of this item.
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