Die Laughing: The Making of a Free Speech Hero

Written by:
26 August 2021
Die Laughing: The Making of a Free Speech Hero - Featured image

How does a young man who learns jazz and classical piano, scours Europe’s great art galleries for artistic enlightenment and falls in love with women from all over the world go on to become reviled as a bigot?

The answer has less to do with him than it does with his critics. As cartoonist Bill Leak discovered, all it takes is to express an opinion that differs from today’s neo-authoritarian narrative.

When Leak, late in life, provoked the wrath of politically correct mobs and institutions, he didn’t flinch, adhering to what he knew to be the truth and ridiculing his detractors with his brilliant caricatures and savage intellect.

These battles were significant and symbolic, but should not define Leak’s life and work. Fred Pawle has spent three years researching and interviewing dozens of Leak’s friends and colleagues to create this intimate and honest biography.

Now, for the first time, here is the whole beautiful but occasionally troubled story behind an extraordinarily gifted Australian artist, cartoonist, writer and raconteur.

You can now order Die Laughing: The Biography of Bill Leak here.

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Die Laughing

Written by:
28 April 2021

Thank you for your support and interest in the publication of Die Laughing: The Biography of Bill Leak. The fundraising appeal to support the publication of the book has now closed. Thank you to all who contributed to stand up for freedom of speech in Australia.

Bill Leak was a great friend, and member, of the IPA who stood up against political correctness through his cartoons and understood just how important freedom of speech is. We hope to honour the legacy of Bill and keep fighting for freedom of speech in Australia.

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Support the IPA

If you liked what you read, consider supporting the IPA. We are entirely funded by individual supporters like you. You can become an IPA member and/or make a tax-deductible donation.