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Search - List of Books by Kenneth Cook

Kenneth Cook (1929—1987) was a prolific Australian journalist, film director, screenwriter, TV personality and novelist best known for his works Wake in Fright, which is still in print five decades after its first publication, and the humorous Killer Koala trilogy.

Born in Lakemba, New South Wales, Cook attended Fort Street High School. After leaving school he worked around Australia in a variety of jobs including laboratory technician, journalist and television documentary-maker and boatshed operator.

In 1966, with businessman Gordon Barton, Cook founded a new political party, the Liberal Reform Group. Cook was vehemently opposed to the Vietnam War, and stood (unsuccessfully) as an LRG candidate for the seat of Parramatta in the 1966 federal election.

A keen amateur lepidopterist, Cook established the first butterfly farm in Australia on the banks of Sydney's Hawkesbury River in the 1970s.

Cook was married to Patricia Hickie, with whom he had four children, Megan (an accomplished journalistic-style writer in her own right whose surname was Gressor), Kerry, Paul and Anthony. He and Patricia were subsequently divorced. Kenneth Cook died of a heart attack in 1987, aged 57, while on a camping trip with his second wife, Jacqueline Kent. Patricia Cook died suddenly in 2006; daughter Megan Gressor died unexpectedly from post-operative complications in 2007, aged 52; his youngest son Anthony, a prominent lawyer who was well known for his work with indigenous Australians, took his own life in April 2009.

Several of Cook's novels were adapted for the screen. Wake in Fright was filmed in 1971 by Ted Kotcheff, starring Donald Pleasence and Gary Bond (released under the title Outback in Europe and the US). Stockade was filmed by Ross McGregor and Hans Pomeranz, also in 1971. In 1976 The Bushranger was made into a telemovie, starring Leonard Teale, John Hamblin and Kate Fitzpatrick.

Cook also wrote one episode of the Australian TV children's adventure series The Rovers (1970)

In 2007 Cook's novel The Man Underground was adapted as a radio drama by ABC Radio National

A 72-minute audio interview with Cook by Hazel de Berg was recorded in 1972, in which he discusses his family, his work for the ABC, the background to Wake in Fright, his ventures into film production and his novels. The interview is preserved in the collection of the National Library of Australia

Cook's literary estate is managed by Curtis Brown Australia

Books   more

This author page uses material from the Wikipedia article "Kenneth Cook", which is released under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share-Alike License 3.0
Total Books: 40
L'Ivresse du kangourou et autres histoires du bush
2022 - L'ivresse Du Kangourou Et Autres Histoires Du Bush (Other)
ISBN-13: 9782080279484
ISBN-10: 2080279483
Genre: Literature & Fiction
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N'essayez jamais d'aider un kangourou et autres aventures imprvues du bush ET AUTRES AVENTURES IMPRVUES DU BUSH
Fear is the Rider
2017 - Fear Is the Rider (Paperback)
ISBN-13: 9781925240856
ISBN-10: 1925240851
Genres: Literature & Fiction, Mystery, Thriller & Suspense
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toute berzingue
2016 - Toute Berzingue (Paperback)
ISBN-13: 9782746743076
ISBN-10: 2746743078
Genre: Literature & Fiction
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El lagarto astronauta / The Wombat Revenge
2012 - El Lagarto Astronauta / the Wombat Revenge [Al Margen - Spanish Edition] (Paperback)
ISBN-13: 9788493907686
ISBN-10: 8493907685
Genre: Literature & Fiction
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La vengeance du wombat
2010 - La Vengeance Du Wombat [French Edition] (Paperback)
ISBN-13: 9782746713697
ISBN-10: 2746713691
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Wake in Fright
2009 - Wake in Fright (Paperback)Paperback, Hardcover
ISBN-13: 9781921520600
ISBN-10: 1921520604
Genre: Literature & Fiction
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Pardessus bord
2007 - Pardessus Bord [French Edition] (Paperback)
ISBN-13: 9782746709324
ISBN-10: 2746709325
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Cinq matins de trop
2006 - Cinq Matins De Trop [French Edition] (Paperback)
ISBN-13: 9782746708235
ISBN-10: 274670823X
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In Furcht erwachen
2006 - In Furcht Erwachen (Hardcover)
ISBN-13: 9783406542077
ISBN-10: 3406542077
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Bloodhouse
1988 - Bloodhouse (Paperback)Paperback, Hardcover
ISBN-13: 9780140105858
ISBN-10: 0140105859
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Frill Necked Frenzy
1987 - Frill Necked Frenzy (Hardcover)
ISBN-13: 9780947063054
ISBN-10: 0947063056
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Play Little Victims
1984 - Play Little VIctims (Paperback)Hardcover
ISBN-13: 9780708826416
ISBN-10: 0708826415
Genre: Literature & Fiction
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Man Underground
1977 - Man Underground (Hardcover)
ISBN-13: 9780333229194
ISBN-10: 0333229193
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Tuna
1972 - Tuna (Hardcover)
ISBN-13: 9780434142460
ISBN-10: 0434142468
Genre: Literature & Fiction
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Chain Of Darkness
Chain of Darkness (Paperback)Paperback
ISBN-13: 9780140032024
ISBN-10: 0140032029
Genre: Mystery, Thriller & Suspense
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Piper in the Market Place
Piper in the Market Place (Hardcover)
ISBN-13: 9780434142453
ISBN-10: 043414245X
Genre: Literature & Fiction
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Wine of God's Anger
Wine of God's Anger (Hardcover)
ISBN-13: 9780434143504
ISBN-10: 0434143502
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Eliza Fraser
Eliza Fraser (Paperback)
ISBN-13: 9780725102340
ISBN-10: 0725102349
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The Killer Koala Humorous Australian Bush Stories
The Killer Koala Humorous Australian Bush Stories (Hardcover)
ISBN-13: 9780947063009
ISBN-10: 0947063005
  • Currently 4/5 Stars.
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Wombat Revenge
Wombat Revenge (Hardcover)
ISBN-13: 9780947063047
ISBN-10: 0947063048
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A Coups Redoubls [French Edition] (Paperback)