Wilder Shores

Danny McFadden went from sleeping in parks, a hopeless drunk, to becoming an internationally respected lawyer working for the UN in New York and across borders in Beijing and beyond. Growing up in a tight-knit Irish community in post-war London, he learnt that drinking, a staple of working-class life eased his chronic shyness and social anxiety. But this devil's bargain spiraled out of control. He shares his at times surreal journey through the swinging 60s, a whirlwind of experimental drugs and rock 'n' roll. He drifts through dead-end jobs and carouses his way across Europe before washing up on Australia's wild shores. Capturing the drama and fleeting bliss, he recounts his decades-long spiral to the edge of self-destruction until he wakes up in hospital, a trembling wreck fighting for his survival.Wilder Shores is a fiercely honest and sometimes hilarious journey, a reflection of the dizzying wave of emotions which swept him through addiction, recovery and redemption. Apart from being a fascinating read, this true story offers hope and inspiration to anyone struggling through life's darker corners.