Robert Drewe: New novel Nimble Foot lifts lid on Australia

Have you heard about the boy who became an international sporting hero at 10 years of age? Why there was quite the fuss when a Bangalow author hit Byron Bay.

Australian novelist Robert Drewe visited the Book Room in Byron Bay for the new release of his historical fiction novel ‘Nimble Foot’ which is based on true events.

There Drewe discussed the events within the novel - no spoilers, but it includes a scandalous dance performed by a then celebrity and exotic dancer, Lola Montez, who was loved by all men (including the royals).

Drewe said the ‘spider dance’ Montez commits on stage is “salacious, humorous and worth writing about”.

“I couldn’t image what a spider dance would look like, it’s beyond my imagination.”

Drewe said the book is told through the lens of a 10-year-old boy, Johnny Day. In real life, Day rode a horse by the name of Nimblefoot to victory in the Melbourne Cup.

Robert Drewe with Savannah Pocock at the Book Room for Nimble Foot.

The author said he hopes the readers of ‘Nimble Foot’ can take away the feeling of love, happiness and joy at the way Johnny dealt with life as he was growing up.

Drewe hopes his work might become a book-to-movie adaptation.

“I think it would make a very exciting TV series and I’d love to see that,” he said.

At age 21, Drewe was recruited by The Age in Melbourne and became chief of that newspaper’s Sydney bureau a year later.

He has since won two Walkley Awards for journalism and written eight novels.

You can purchase a copy of Nimble Foot at the Book Room at Byron Bay.