Dr David Gormley-O'Brien is a writer and historian based in Woodend, Victoria, where he lives with his partner, Sara, on a smallholding with geese, ducks and chickens, a dog named Mavis, and a bossy cat called Franklin.
He enjoyed a long career as a university lecturer in the history of ideas and religions in Late Antiquity. After completing his Doctor of Philosophy at the University of Oxford in 2005, his research focused on ancient philosophical and religious conventions of self-sufficiency and friendship.
In recent years, David's work has turned to the human aftermath of war, migration, and national identity. Through historical fiction, he explores how the upheavals of the early and mid 20th century shaped the ways everyday Australians understood themselves and others.
When not researching and writing, David enjoys being in his garden and maintaining his >50 year old Land Rover. He is also a keen advocate for renewable energy, electric vehicles (bikes and cars), and climate change mitigation and adaptation. He served 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 Board Director of the Macedon Ranges Community Enterprises (Community Bank - Gisborne and District, a franchise of Bendigo Bank).
Feel free to contact him via email david@nihilalienum.au or fill in the form below.
