Love, War and Crocodiles is an account of the many adventures and loves of Arvids Blumentals, aka Crocodile Harry, one of the most unusual migrants to arrive in Australia after WW2. Harry was a Latvian patriot who went to war at 17, lost his homeland, and became a crocodile hunter, gravity surveyor, opal miner, writer and womaniser. He called himself a baron and married an opera-singing German lady he’d never met. He appeared in a high-profile inquest, entertained Tina Turner and Olivia Newton-John and was the subject of many media stories. His dugout in Coober Pedy was featured in Mad Max 3 and still attracts tourists today. This carefully researched book looks at Harry’s diverse pursuits, his intriguing personality and the historical background of a war that shattered a generation of men. Few others reacted as flamboyantly as Harry.
