William Thornhill, a petty criminal from London, is sentenced in 1806 to New South Wales for the term of his natural life. When he gets his 'Ticket of Leave', he stakes him claim on some rich, fertile land on the banks of the Hawkesbury River and takes his wife Sal and their children to live there. They clear a small area, build a bark hut and work hard to establish a crop of corn. Not long after they arrive, they see some smoke on a hill behind the hut and Thornhill comes face to face with the native Aboriginal people. A battle then begins between the old and new settlers.
Beautifully written, it's easy to relate to this ambitious, determined man William Thornhill as he struggles to establish a new start in the harsh Australian bush. We also see the innocence of the Aboriginal people and the fury and power of the white man when his world is threatened.
Kate Grenville dedicates her book to the Aboriginal people: past, present and future.
No comments:
Post a Comment