A Fortunate Life is the extraordinary life story of an ordinary man, Albert Facey. He lived with simple honesty, compassion, and courage. Starting as a parentless boy who began work at the age of eight on the rough West Australian frontier, Facey faced numerous challenges. He struggled as an itinerant rural worker and survived the gore of Gallipoli. He endured the loss of his farm during the Depression, the tragic death of his son in World War II, and the passing of his beloved wife after sixty devoted years together. Yet, despite these hardships, he felt that his life was fortunate.

Facey's life story, published when he was eighty-seven, has inspired many as a play, a television series, and a book that has sold over half a million copies. It is a testament to the resilience and strength of the human spirit.