In a Great Southern Land
by
Mary-Anne O'Connor
Publisher: Harper Collins Australia
Imprint: HQ Fiction
Publication Date: 18th March 2019
Pages: 416
RRP: $32.99
Format Read: Paperback
Source: Courtesy of the publisher
From the emerald
hills of Ireland to a wild colonial land comes an epic story of love, brotherhood and the fight for liberty....
1851: After the death of her father, young Eve Richards is
destitute. Her struggle to survive sees her deported in chains to the
colony of New South Wales, penniless and alone. But here in this strange
new world fortune smiles on the spirited, clever Eve in the shape of a
respectable job offer that will lead to a quiet, secure life. Then the
fiery and charismatic Irishman Kieran Clancy crosses her path...
For
Kieran Clancy, the kindest man on earth, and his brother Liam, the
promise of free passage and land in this brave new world is a chance to
leave the grief and starvation of County Clare behind. But while Liam
works to farm their land, Kieran has the fire of gold-fever upon him and
is drawn to the goldfields of Ballarat. As tensions grow on the
goldfields, and with the blood of an Irish rebel still beating through
his heart, Kieran finds himself caught up in the cataclysmic events at
the Eureka Stockade and faces the decision of a lifetime: whether or
not, when it comes to love, blood will remain thicker than water...
O’Connor
has excelled with this emotional and heart-wrenching saga of a family striving
for a new beginning in a foreign untamed land.
I
love reading books on early Australian setters, both convicts and free
settlers. I quite often find reading about the early days of Australia raw and
confronting. In a Great Southern Land is
no exception, although not as harsh as some I’ve read that delve into the atrocities
against convicts and the aboriginals. O’Connor steers more towards the
difficulties of living in a harsh, barren and isolated area and the budding
romance between Kieran and Eve.
Irishman
Kieran Clancy and his extended family have been granted free passage to New
South Wales and a parcel of land on arrival. Kieran had a burning desire for
vengeance against oppression. Their leaving doesn’t happen without much
controversy and heartache.
Eve
Richards finds herself without a job and back on the streets of Vauxhall,
Liverpool. A misadventure with police ends with her in prison and sentenced to a
life of servitude in Australia.
Kieran
was a cocky Irishman very sure of himself but also sure of what was right and
what was wrong. He would always put someone else’s safety and rights before his
own. He lived his life passionately and impetuously. Always doing what was
right.
The
story follows Kieran working at the shipyard, in 1800’s Sydney, where he teams
up with Dave spending their spare time drinking and fighting then moves on to
the goldfields where, like so many others, they hoped to make their fortune.
Kieran’s
brother Liam, sister Eileen her husband and three children settle on their
property in Orange waiting for Kieran to join them.
A
chance encounter with Kieran ends with Eve working as a servant and companion
to the mistress of an isolated country property.
In a Great Southern Land
encompasses what it means to be free incorporating the free settlers, convicts,
the gold rush, Eureka Stockade, prejudice and the general hardships of a harsh
landscape.
In a Great Southern Land is an
incredibly moving tale and the author’s notes at the end are equally as moving.
Set aside some time, this is one book you won’t be able to put down.
My rating 5 / 5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
*this review is part of the Book Lover Book Review Aussie author challenge
and book #10 in the Australian Women Writers challenge
Letter 'I' in the 2019 A-Z challenge
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| Photo credit: Goodreads |
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Mary-Anne O'Connor has a combined arts education degree with specialties in environment, music and literature. She works in marketing and co-wrote/edited A Brush with Light and Secrets of the Brush with Kevin Best. Mary-Anne lives in a house overlooking her beloved bushland in Northern Sydney with her husband Anthony, their two sons Jimmy and Jack, and their very spoilt dog Saxon. This is her fourth major novel. Her previous novels, Galipoli Street (2015), Worth Fighting For (2016) and War Flower (2017), have all been bestsellers.
