About
Dr David Gormley-O'Brien is a writer and historian based in Woodend, Victoria. He is the author of the Becoming Australia historical fiction series, which includes An Attractive Naivety and Ashes and Sakura.
Drawing on extensive historical research, David's novels tell the human stories behind Australia's history. Through the lives of ordinary people, they explore war, migration, social change, relations with neighbouring countries and national identity – experiences that helped shape modern Australia during the first half of the twentieth century.
Before turning to historical fiction, David had a long career as a university lecturer specialising in the history of ideas in Late Antiquity. He completed both a Master of Philosophy and a Doctor of Philosophy at the University of Oxford, United Kingdom, where his research examined Judaism and early Christianity in the Graeco-Roman period. During his academic career, he published numerous refereed journal articles and book chapters and was co-editor, with Anne Elvey, of Climate Change – Cultural Change: Religious Responses and Responsibilities (2013).
His scholarly background continues to inform his approach to historical research and writing. Much of the research behind his novels draws on contemporary newspapers, archives, diaries, photographs and other primary sources. His writing has a particular interest in the experiences of ordinary people caught up in major historical events and in the human consequences of war, migration and changing ideas of national identity. He is a member of Military History and Heritage Victoria.
Away from writing and research, David enjoys gardening and restoring his 1973 Land Rover Series III. He has also been a longstanding advocate for environmental sustainability, renewable energy and electric transport. He served for four years as President of the Macedon Ranges Sustainability Group and was named Macedon Ranges Citizen of the Year in 2022. He currently serves as a volunteer Director of Macedon Ranges Community Enterprises, which operates Community Bank Gisborne & District under franchise from Bendigo Bank.
Contact details
- david@nihilalienum.au
- 0419 528 659
- Goodreads