“The Northumbrian Kiap” has been given good reviews
Among the best received were those volunteered by former Kiaps through the Ex-Kiap website – which is a discussion channel for former Patrol Officers in Papua New Guinea and those who are interested in their activities. (To read these – click on link below.)
Comments by ex-Kiaps, who are well placed to identify exaggeration and inaccuracy, include the following:
“A book well-worth reading, not only for history buffs but for modern generations because it exposes the ambitions of PNG’s new power-hungry politicians.” – Phil Fitzpatrick – who also reviewed the book for PNG Attitude.
“I recommend this interesting book to all ex-Kiaps”. – Ves Karnups
“Your book has been a fascinating read and fills a gap in the Kiap story. Wish that I could write as well as you,” Barry Taverner (former Kiap – and work colleague at Bereina too.)
# “This story is a ripping yarn and potential film script. It will find a place as a first-hand account of the modernising process of development field work. It fleshes out the modern history of PNG,” Greg Harris – director of the DVD “Kiap – the stories behind the medal”.
# “An excellent read. I envy Robert his pre-Kiap volunteer experience, something that would have benefited all of us had we been so fortunate.” Bob Bamford, who trained with the author at ASOPA in 1971.
# “I’m very much enjoying your book. I love the way that you’ve been able to equate your home village and it’s “tumbuna worship” with that of the people you lived with in PNG. I also love the obvious empathy that you have with Papua New Guineans.” Bob Bucknall, another ex-Kiap who trained with the author at ASOPA in 1971.
This website is the most influential of those that cover current developments within Papua New Guinea.
One of its principal reviewers, and a former Kiap himself, identified “The Northumbrian Kiap” as “an eloquent book which makes an important contribution to the history of Papua New Guinea and Kiaps in particular because it covers the end days of Australian colonialism, a subject that hasn’t had much attention before”. (To read click here.)
“The last days of the Kiap – a rare tale of the end of an era”.
A second PNG Attitude review, this time by Papua New Guinean, Daniel Kumbon, who hails from Kandep was published on August 14th 2018. He said: “‘The Northumbrian Kiap’, is a fascinating and skilfully written book which clarifies many of the questions raised by the village people who lived and grew up at that time.
I recommend it to anybody who cares about the history of pre-independence Papua New Guinea.” (To read click on the link here)
A compelling story of the time when the Kiap was King.
An international perspective was offered by OnlineBookClub in the United States view on August 23rd 2018.
The reviewer gave “The Northumbrian Kiap” a Four Star rating. It is the highest score OnlineBookClub offers.
Official Review by OnlineBookClub in United States (23rd August 2018).
A Northumbrian view was posted by the Hexham Courant on July 12th 2018. (To read click on the link below.)
Close encounters of the deadly kind | Hexham Courant
www.hexham-courant.co.uk/…/Close-encounters-of-the-deadly-kind-5870fdc7-1bd1-…
12 Jul 2018 – It’s a long way from the leafy lanes of Hexhamshire to the steamy jungles of Papua New Guinea.
More comments, and information, on “The Northumbrian Kiap” can be found by Googling its title.