Tunis is Mad Tonight
The Life and Times of New Zealand Journalist Douglas Brass
Denis Glover, Charles Brasch, Ian Milner – these names have long been familiar to New Zealanders. Less well known is their contemporary and friend, journalist Douglas Brass, whose remarkable four-decade career gave him a unique view of a turbulent period in world history.
After becoming a parliamentary reporter in Wellington in 1934, at the age of 24, Brass worked for Sir Keith Murdoch at the Herald in Melbourne, then became an acclaimed and internationally published war correspondent. He reported extensively and intelligently on post-war Europe and also established himself as an admired royal correspondent, attending the coronation and travelling with the new monarch on her Commonwealth tour of 1953–54. Brass went on to become Rupert Murdoch’s eminence grise, was editorial director of News Limited and played a major role in the establishment of The Australian. His powerful columns opposing Australia’s participation in the Vietnam War were extremely influential. Yet this prominent journalist, so close to the making of history, remains virtually unknown in his own country.
For this fascinating, readable and timely biography, Peter Cox has researched widely to reveal a man who loved his family and his homeland yet often fiercely criticised New Zealand, a man who was at the forefront of great events yet remained private and reserved, a man who could be serious yet also funny and kind. Douglas Brass was as fine a writer in his field as his more famous contemporaries. In Tunis is Mad Tonight a long neglected New Zealander takes his deserved place in the spotlight and an extraordinary life is revealed.
MEDIA & REVIEWS
RADIO NEW ZEALAND INTERVIEW WITH Emile Donovan
Read Full Article Here
The New Zealand Herald Magazine Canvas Magazine, 19 April 2025
Read Full Review Here
NZ Booklovers April 2025:
‘… after reading this book, you will find his remarkable 40-year career utterly fascinating’
Read the Full Review here
Ian F. Grant, Pressing On: The story of New Zealand newspapers, 1921–2000:
"This readable and well-researched book sheds illuminating light on Douglas Brass’s distinguished journalistic career and his involvement in key moments in British, Australian and New Zealand newspaper history."
Tunis is Mad Tonight – The Life and Times of New Zealand Journalist Douglas Brass (ISBN 978-1-99-110369-7) is published by Quentin Wilson Publishing and is obtainable from bookshops and online at www.nationwidebooks.co.nz
www.quentinwilsonpublishing.com
www.douglasbrassjournalist.co.nz
