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Ian W. Shaw

Ian Shaw

Ian W. Shaw is an acclaimed writer of narrative nonfiction who has made an important contribution to Australian history and to the understanding of our nation.

Ian has published 12 works of Australian and military history, all of which are characterised by his ability to locate and access hidden tales from our past, and for his meticulous and far-reaching research. He has a gift for effectively and sympathetically rendering the individuals within these stories on the page. He writes on Australian history with a rare emotional depth, presenting clear, engaging and accurate narratives that help make our collective past accessible and relatable.

Ian’s most recent book is The Golden Gang, a biography of Australian bushranger Frank Gardiner and was published in 2024 by Simon & Schuster. Other recent books include Missing, the tragic story of a WWII fighter pilot’s brutal sacrifice and the painstaking search for the truth (Big Sky Publishing) and Into the Sunset, exploring the story of the Dalton gang (University of Kansas Press).

Ian is also the author of Operation Babylift – published by Hachette in May 2019 – that tells the remarkable story of the Australian women who fought hostility, entrenched racism, sexism and bureaucratic atrophy as they attempted to evacuate hundreds of orphans from South Vietnam in the dying days of the Vietnam War. 

The Golden Gang cover Missing cover Into the Sunset cover Pandemic cover  The Other Side of the Mountain cover  OperationBabylift_cover  Murder at Dusk cover          

Previous works include The Bloodbath (Scribe), On Radji Beach (Pan Macmillan), The Ghosts of Roebuck Bay (Pan Macmillan) and Glenrowan (Pan Macmillan).

Praise for Ian W Shaw:

Murder at Dusk

“An interesting study of toxic masculinity in the shape of a “classic” murder story … [Shaw’s] approach is skilled and welcome … a consummate researcher … so engaging and thoughtful.” The Age/Sydney Morning Herald

“Canberra historian Ian Shaw has done a superb job in re-examining this fascinating case with new detail and casting it against the backdrop of wartime Melbourne and the Allied war effort.  Fascinating!”  Canberra Weekly

“This true crime insight is an enthralling read.” Woman’s Day

The Rag Tag Fleet 

“Enthralling . . . makes for a fascinating read.” Canberra Times

The Ghosts of Roebuck Bay 

“Told with detailed research and a flair for dramatic narrative. The main personalities are much more than just names. This is a splendid contribution to our military history.” Sydney Morning Herald

On Radji Beach

“Unforgettable.” The Weekend Australian

“A driven, suspenseful and realistic narrative … essential reading for anyone interested in Australia’s war history and the role of women in war. On Radji Beach is an insightful and tragic excursion into an aspect of Australian history that has often been overlooked or forgotten.” Overland Journal

Glenrowan 

“Shaw provides a fresh, detailed and dramatic account of the siege and all its players. Shaw’s careful consideration of Glenrowan allows him to recount history in concise, most readable language.” News Ltd

The Bloodbath: The 1945 VFL Grand Final 

“[Shaw] writes with quiet authority and a tempo that never flags.” The Age, Martin Flanagan

“A brilliant work of social history.” The Australian