Publisher's Synopsis
In 1984, Walter Maresch, on work release at the School for the Blind, made a daring escape from Silverwater Prison. He was soon accused of threatening to blow up Channel Ten TV studios in New South Wales, Australia. The accusation stemmed from the broadcast of his wife's autobiographical movie, 'Hostage', which he claimed falsely labelled him as a Nazi terrorist.
This gripping autobiography not only provides Maresch's perspective, sharply challenging his wife's memoir but also chronicles his riveting adventures on the run. As he travels across the country to evade capture, Maresch's account unveils his harrowing journey, full of close calls and dramatic encounters. His story reveals a starkly different version of events and exposes the lies and contradictions in his wife's portrayal of their tumultuous situation.
"In a panicked frenzy reminiscent of an elephant stampede, I barrelled through the dense shrubbery of the Blue Mountains. Halfway to Lithgow, I had instructed the taxi driver to drop me off amidst the wilderness. My heart raced from the fear of being recognised. My face must be plastered across televisions nationwide by now. I had to get far away from the road where I was visible. My heart throbbed wildly in my ears, pounding like pistons doing overtime.I could feel then, beneath those stars, the deeper, deathless self wanting to be expressed in an action that would help if only in a small way, re-establish truth on this planet. I knew I had to follow a path of self-purification. I knew that risking my life was part of this self-purification. I couldn't turn my back on the lies that masqueraded as truth. I couldn't run and seek a comfortable life. Discontent would have crept into my home and robbed me of my sleep. I had to stand and fight. I felt like the universal warrior."
This autobiography was written by Walter Maresch, published by his daughter and includes personal letters written between himself and his daughter and wife, from prison and later from when he illegally reentered the country to meet his daughter on national tv.
