Description
‘Grafton Everest is a wonderful creation’ – Barry Humphries
‘… it’s hilarious. Fitzgerald’s vision and McFayden’s comedy make perfect bedfellows.’ – Phil Brown, Courier Mail
In this 7th book of the highly acclaimed Grafton Everest Series, our indolent hero, Professor Dr Everest, former lecturer in Lifestyles and Wellbeing at the University of Mangoland, is surprised to find himself President of the newly minted Republic of Australia. He is also concerned when he learns that, due to a drafting error, it is to be an American-style executive presidency. Luckily he manages to avoid any actual work or duties, save heading the newly created Department of Wellbeing, and leaves on a goodwill tour of the United States.
Here, to his further surprise, he is hailed as a political guru and even a messiah by a population still reeling from the incumbency and assassination of president Ronald Thump. Adulation for his even most off-the-cuff comments leads to Grafton being courted by both Democrats and Republicans as a possible US Presidential candidate, something which seems impossible until he discovers a well-kept secret about his true citizenship. After further discoveries, including a secret society of retired spies and bionic clones, he returns to Australia to find that the Department of Wellbeing has become a ruthless dictatorship that has brought the nation to a stop. It is now up to Professor Dr Everest to save the country …
“The Dizzying Heights … is perhaps even more unbelievable than its predecessors, but that’s one of the results of serial farce, and not simply in the framework of literature. Certainly in this slim volume the good doctor-professor rises to dizzying heights indeed. Some Americans, bless them, even try to adopt him as a presidential candidate. But enough of plot giveaways; read the book, it tells the story much better.”
–Richard, Goodreads: https://bit.ly/2rvcB6h
Read Richard Laidlaw’s review on his blog:
‘The Dizzying Heights’ is a quick read, a rollicking one …’ https://8degreesoflatitude.com/
Hear a 20-minute conversation with Ross Fitzgerald and Ian McFadyen talking to Steve Austin about their latest political satire: https://www.abc.net.au/radio/brisbane/programs/drive/drive/11859692 at around 2:01:45.
About the authors
Ross Fitzgerald AM is Emeritus Professor of History & Politics at Griffith University. He is the author of 41 books, including a memoir, My Name is Ross: An Alcoholic’s Journey, and more recently the political/sexual satires Going Out Backwards: A Grafton Everest Adventure and So Far, So Good: An Entertainment, both published by Hybrid in Melbourne. He lives in Redfern, Sydney.
Ian McFadyen is a writer, actor and producer who has created a number of successful television series and feature films. He previously collaborated with Ross Fitzgerald on the Grafton Everest novel Going Out Backwards, which was shortlisted for the 2017 Russell Prize for Humour Writing. He lives in Narangba, Queensland.
