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Courtesy of Allen & Unwin.
Issue Details: First known date: 2010... 2010 The Happiest Refugee : The Extraordinary True Story of a Boy's Journey from Starvation at Sea to Becoming One of Australia's Best-Loved Comedians
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AbstractHistoryArchive Description

'Anh Do nearly didn't make it to Australia. His entire family came close to losing their lives on the sea as they escaped from war-torn Vietnam in an overcrowded boat. But nothing - not murderous pirates, nor the imminent threat of death by hunger, disease or dehydration as they drifted for days - could quench their desire to make a better life in the country they had dreamed about.

'Life in Australia was hard, an endless succession of back-breaking work, crowded rooms, ruthless landlords and make-do everything. But there was a loving extended family, and always friends and play and something to laugh about for Anh, his brother Khoa and their sister Tram. Things got harder when their father left home when Anh was thirteen - they felt his loss very deeply and their mother struggled to support the family on her own. His mother's sacrifice was an inspiration to Anh and he worked hard during his teenage years to help her make ends meet, also managing to graduate high school and then university.

'Another inspiration was the comedian Anh met when he was about to sign on for a 60-hour a week corporate job. Anh asked how many hours he worked. "Four," the answer came back, and that was it. He was going to be a comedian! The Happiest Refugee tells the incredible, uplifting and inspiring life story of one of our favourite personalities. Tragedy, humour, heartache and unswerving determination - a big life with big dreams. Anh's story will move and amuse all who read it.' (From the publisher's website.)

Exhibitions

6983923
7957824

Notes

  • The Sunday Mail (Adelaide) reported on 15 May, 2016 that Russell Crowe was looking to adapt The Happiest Refugee to film. 'Next up Crowe has his eye on another local story, this time reportedly working with comedian Ahn Do to turn his memoir The Happiest Refugee into a film' (Elaine Lipworth, p. 74).

Publication Details of Only Known VersionEarliest 2 Known Versions of

    • Crows Nest, North Sydney - Lane Cove area, Sydney Northern Suburbs, Sydney, New South Wales,: Allen and Unwin , 2010 .
      person or book cover
      Courtesy of Allen & Unwin.
      Extent: vii, 229p., [16]p. of platesp.
      Description: illus., ports
      Note/s:
      • Publication date: September 2010.
      ISBN: 9781742372389 (pbk.)
    • Crows Nest, North Sydney - Lane Cove area, Sydney Northern Suburbs, Sydney, New South Wales,: Allen and Unwin , 2011 .
      person or book cover
      Courtesy of Allen & Unwin.
      Extent: x, 289p., [30]p. of platesp.
      Edition info: Special ed.
      Description: illus. (some col.), ports (some col.)
      Note/s:
      • Publication date: November 2011.
      ISBN: 9781742379302 (pbk.)

Other Formats

  • Dyslexic edition.

Works about this Work

Getting the Joke : Self -Deprecating Humor in Anh Do’s The Happiest Refugee Jacqui Dickin , 2022 single work criticism
— Appears in: A/b: Auto/Biography Studies , vol. 37 no. 2 2022; (p. 317-334)

'Self-deprecating humor, the comedic act of making oneself the butt of the joke, is a staple of the Australian comedy industry and part of Australia’s national self-concept. Vietnamese Australian Anh Do is one of Australia’s most famous migrant comedians and performs self-deprecating humor while drawing on sometimes traumatic experiences from his personal life as part of his stand-up comedy sets. This essay examines how Do’s style of self-deprecating comedy extends from his stand-up comedy to his national bestselling memoir The Happiest Refugee (2010). The author argues that Do’s self-deprecating humor smuggles trauma to Australian audiences through laughs, and she explores the ambiguity in Do’s ability to occupy opposing identities of the “Other” and the “Aussie kid | bogan” simultaneously. Additionally, the author discusses how Do’s use of humor in his life narrative negotiates model-minority expectations leveled against Asian Australians to turn, in a subtle way, what appears to be a joke on him into a joke about the audience.' (Publication abstract)

Othering or Inclusion? : Teacher Practice around Asian Voices and Identities in Literature Angela Thomas , Vinh to , 2019 single work criticism
— Appears in: English in Australia , vol. 54 no. 3 2019; (p. 18-27)
''Asia literacy' can be loosely defined as having 'some understanding of Asia and its languages in order to engage with it and communicate with its people' (Erebus Consulting Partners, 2002). The Australian Curriculum has prioritised children's development of Asia literacy, specifically through articulating the cross-curriculum priority defined as 'Asia and Australia's engagement with Asia'. In terms of the English curriculum, this priority is realised through an emphasis on the representation of Asian voices and characters in literature that is studied in the classroom. However, previous research undertaken in schools to explore the use of multicultural literature by teachers has demonstrated an uncritical approach to literature, with teachers tending to set up binary opposites of 'Australian' and 'the Other' (Leong and Woods, 2017; Mendoza and Reese, 2001; Rodriguez and Kim, 2018). This paper will present the complexities of practice with literature centred around countries from Asia as represented through research with five Tasmanian teachers - one early childhood teacher, three primary school teachers, and one secondary English teacher. It will examine the factors that influence teachers to use literature from Asian countries, their selection of literature, and their classroom practice with literature. Finally, it will make some recommendations for a stronger future whereby Asian peoples, voices and stories are integrated more inclusively and critically in teachers' everyday practice.' (Publication abstract)
'You Just Want the Feeling That You Have Someone to Make a Plan With' Elaine Lipworth , 2016 single work column interview
— Appears in: The Sunday Mail , 15 May 2016; (p. 74)
Comedian Anh is Rolling on High Sea Matt Gilbertson , 2015 single work column
— Appears in: The Sunday Mail , 22 November 2015; (p. 86)
What I’m Reading Kevin Brophy , 2014 single work column
— Appears in: Meanjin Online 2014;
Untitled Wendy Hall , 2010 single work review
— Appears in: The Courier-Mail , 4 -5 September 2010; (p. 25)

— Review of The Happiest Refugee : The Extraordinary True Story of a Boy's Journey from Starvation at Sea to Becoming One of Australia's Best-Loved Comedians Anh Do , 2010 single work autobiography
Pick of the Week Fiona Capp , 2010 single work review
— Appears in: The Age , 11 September 2010; (p. 24)

— Review of The Happiest Refugee : The Extraordinary True Story of a Boy's Journey from Starvation at Sea to Becoming One of Australia's Best-Loved Comedians Anh Do , 2010 single work autobiography
Taking On Life with a Laugh Alice Nelson , 2010 single work review
— Appears in: The West Australian , 14 September 2010; (p. 6-7)

— Review of The Happiest Refugee : The Extraordinary True Story of a Boy's Journey from Starvation at Sea to Becoming One of Australia's Best-Loved Comedians Anh Do , 2010 single work autobiography
Pick of the Week Bruce Elder , 2010 single work review
— Appears in: The Sydney Morning Herald , 9-10 October 2010; (p. 35)

— Review of The Happiest Refugee : The Extraordinary True Story of a Boy's Journey from Starvation at Sea to Becoming One of Australia's Best-Loved Comedians Anh Do , 2010 single work autobiography
Untitled B. Owen Baxter , 2010 single work review
— Appears in: Bookseller + Publisher Magazine , September vol. 90 no. 2 2010; (p. 35)

— Review of The Happiest Refugee : The Extraordinary True Story of a Boy's Journey from Starvation at Sea to Becoming One of Australia's Best-Loved Comedians Anh Do , 2010 single work autobiography
Funnyman Reduced to Tears Compiling Best-Selling Memoir John Mangan , 2010 single work column
— Appears in: The Sunday Age , 28 November 2010; (p. 5)
Words' Worth William Yeoman , 2011 single work column
— Appears in: The West Australian , 15 March 2011; (p. 7)
Happy Ending Sacha Molitorisz , Ben McKelvey , 2011 single work column
— Appears in: The Sydney Morning Herald , 15 March 2011; (p. 22)
Undercover Susan Wyndham , 2011 single work column
— Appears in: The Sydney Morning Herald , 19-20 March 2011; (p. 29)
A column canvassing current literary news including a brief report on the longlist for the 2011 Miles Franklin Literary Award. Susan Wyndham also notes Anh Do's win in the 2011 Indie Book Awards.
Comedian, Journalist Take Top Prizes Jason Steger , 2011 single work column
— Appears in: The Age , 15 March 2011; (p. 8)
Last amended 23 Sep 2019 09:36:34
Subjects:
  • c
    Vietnam,
    c
    Southeast Asia, South and East Asia, Asia,
  • c
    Australia,
    c
  • Sydney, New South Wales,
  • 1970-2010
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