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Gerry Burke was born in Healesville, Victoria, home to one of Australia’s quirkiest animals, the platypus. He was educated at Xavier College, before taking-on an accountancy course while employed by an international mining company. This was a commitment that lasted twelve years, partly spent in New Guinea. Dramatically, the author then switched careers, joining an advertising- agency in Melbourne, as a copywriter.
Gerry’s advertising career took him to Britain, America, Hong Kong, Singapore and a number of Australian cities. He was employed by some of the world’s largest ad agencies, before branching out and starting his own company. GerryCo provided advertising, marketing, film and video production to local and overseas clients.
In parallel with these activities, Gerry maintained an ongoing interest in the thoroughbred horse racing industry, as an owner and breeder, having raced more than twenty thoroughbreds.
The author’s humorous stories and commentary were first made available for general consumption in 2009, with the release of his first book, From Beer to Paternity. A number of short story collections followed, in which the ubiquitous discount detective Paddy Pest was introduced to the unsuspecting public. The Hero of Hucklebuck Drive was the author’s first novel in 2015, and The Europeans was his fifth. He has reverted back to the short story format for this collection, volume number twelve. To date, eight of his books have received international awards in the categories of General Fiction, Humor and Science Fiction.
Gerry is single and lives in Melbourne, Australia.
Reviewed by Edith Wairimu for Readers' Favorite
In Gerry Burke’s captivating historical novel, The Europeans: A Saga of Settlement Down Under, a Scot, a Greek, and an Irishman all arrive in Australia with great dreams but their lives follow different courses. Bing McKeon, a bulky confident Scot, arrives in Australia where he gradually grows his establishments. Though his life is not without trials, ever the self-assured man, Bing redeems himself from devastating events. Peter Papadopoulos, a brutal Greek who turns his luck and later becomes a renowned magnate after growing several businesses, is Bing’s prime rival. Their rivalry grows fiercer with each passing year as they try to outdo each other. Another main character, Matthew O’Gorman, is an Irishman who becomes a criminal in the hope of exacting revenge on the culprits involved in his downfall.
Gerry Burke’s development of the main and supporting characters in The Europeans is impressive. Each character has a fascinating story that adds depth to the plot. I loved that the novel is laced with humor which made each chapter entertaining and engaging. The plot contains many unexpected events, resulting in an absorbing novel. Different themes are explored but the rivalry between the main characters is the main theme. It holds the story together and forms the foundation of the novel. Burke’s expertise in horse racing and breeding also shines through each page. The Europeans: A Saga of Settlement Down Under is an adeptly developed historical novel with fascinating characters, humorous details, and riveting scenes.
