Fred was the first Australian diplomat to be posted to southern Afghanistan, and the last to leave. Working alongside Australian troops, his job was to comprehend the complex web of tribal and patronage networks that made things tick in Uruzgan province. He came to see the province through Afghan eyes, as well as those of the soldiers he worked with.

On return he recorded a powerful collection of songs about the realities of life for soldiers and civilians in this difficult war. His album Dust of Uruzgan has been described as “a cycle of songs that are raw, remarkably honest and suitably ambivalent about the nature of war”, and “a triumph of poetic journalism and songwriting”.

Now Fred has written his experiences into a remarkable book to be published by Allen and Unwin. In revealing the back stories behind each of his songs, he weaves memoir, history, and eyewitness reportage in to a ripping yarn; an accessible and definitive account of the Australian mission in Afghanistan.

Accompanied by Liz Frencham on double bass, Carl Pannuzzo on piano and projections of some stunning photos from Afghanistan, Fred will be telling stories from the book and performing the songs, offering finely observed snapshots of a harsh, sad and funny reality, and at last an understanding of what was going on over there in the dust of Uruzgan.