The Secret River
The Secret River by Kate Grenville, published by Text Pub. in 2006, is an advanced uncorrected proof edition comprising 334 pages. This historical fiction novel follows William Thornhill, who, after a childhood marked by poverty and crime in London, is transported to New South Wales in 1806. Accompanied by his wife Sal and their children, Thornhill faces the harsh realities of a new land that initially feels like a death sentence. However, whispers among the convicts suggest that freedom can be purchased, offering a chance for a fresh start.
Readers will find a narrative that explores the complexities of survival and adaptation in a foreign land. As Thornhill and his family attempt to claim their place by the Hawkesbury River, they encounter various characters, including Blackwood, who seeks reconciliation with the land and its original inhabitants, and Smasher Williams, whose fear manifests in brutality. The story delves into the tensions between the old and new inhabitants, providing a rich context for understanding the historical dynamics of the time.
Official synopsis Publisher
After a childhood of poverty and petty crime in the slums of London, William Thornhill is sentenced in 1806 to be transported to New South Wales for the term of his natural life. With his wife Sal and children in tow, he arrives in a harsh land that feels at first like a death sentence. But among the convicts there is a whisper that freedom can be bought, an opportunity to start afresh.
Away from the infant township of Sydney, up the Hawkesbury River, Thornhill encounters men who have tried to do just that- Blackwood, who is attempting to reconcile himself with the place and its people, and Smasher Williams, whose fear of this alien world turns into brutal depravity towards it. As Thornhill and his family stake their claim on a patch of ground by the river, the battle lines between old and new inhabitants are drawn.
The Secret Riverjoins a tradition of grand historical fiction that stretches from Thomas Keneally’s The Chant of Jimmy Blacksmithand Peter Carey’s True History of the Kelly Gang.
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