The story-behind-the-story of The Tale of Frieda Keysser: why it was written, how it developed from a plan to write a brief biography of two little-known missionaries in Central Australia at the end of the nineteenth century into a comprehensive account of the place and its personalities, filling two huge volumes crammed with information not available elsewhere. Investigating a Forgotten Past is an entertaining easy read for those curious to discover the ins and outs of the research behind the Tale. Without going into too much detail, it preserves the essential story while covering the multiple happenings and personalities not mentioned in the main books, personalities whose contribution was vital for the recovery of this forgotten past.

Investigating a Forgotten Past

$50.00

ISBN: 976-0-9567 558-9-6

eBook. Wild Cat Press. Published 16 July 2025.

Researching family history is a popular activity, but when John Strehlow embarked on The Tale of Frieda Keysser, he had no idea what he was letting himself in for. Thousands of letters in the old German handwriting turned up waiting to be read, and visits to archives in Central Europe soon followed. Investigating a Forgotten Past gives the inside story of the 25-year project in a nuts-and-bolts outline, ranging from how to do emergency repairs when your car’s exhaust system falls off on a German motorway, to circumventing other family members’ attempts to sabotage the project. Here and there a skeleton turns up in the family closet. This 250-page eBook is an easy read about an extraordinary venture with long-term lessons for Australia’s future. There are 16 pages of illustrations in colour and B/W. Copies are obtainable by writing to johnstrehlow7@gmail.com Website is www.johnstrehlow.co.uk

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Investigating a Forgotten Past

ISBN: 976-0-9567 558-9-6

eBook. Wild Cat Press. Published 16 July 2025.

Researching family history is a popular activity, but when John Strehlow embarked on The Tale of Frieda Keysser, he had no idea what he was letting himself in for. Thousands of letters in the old German handwriting turned up waiting to be read, and visits to archives in Central Europe soon followed. Investigating a Forgotten Past gives the inside story of the 25-year project in a nuts-and-bolts outline, ranging from how to do emergency repairs when your car’s exhaust system falls off on a German motorway, to circumventing other family members’ attempts to sabotage the project. Here and there a skeleton turns up in the family closet. This 250-page eBook is an easy read about an extraordinary venture with long-term lessons for Australia’s future. There are 16 pages of illustrations in colour and B/W. Copies are obtainable by writing to johnstrehlow7@gmail.com Website is www.johnstrehlow.co.uk