![]() ![]() ![]() The book shows French’s indefatigable enthusiasm for research and the clever way that she can build a fictional story out of the facts that she discovers. It covers well-known historical facts and events – such as the appalling effect of European illnesses on Australia’s First People the relatively low death rate on the First Fleet compared to the second and third the near starvation of the fledgling colony and the spearing of the first governor – as well as well-known historical figures, such as Bennelong, Phillip and Tench, and introduces us to lesser-known figures in Rachel Turner, Nanberry and Surgeon White. Nanberry: black brother white (not too sure how to capitalise that.?), follows the events at Sydney Cove from 1788 to 1800 and then a little bit at 1823. Never more so than when she is writing about Australia. But let me say now that French’s writing is consistently good and always covers interesting historical material in an approachable fashion. ![]() Some may feel that, in an earlier post, I may have implied that Jackie French doesn’t earn her spot in the shortlist year after year, that would be true. ![]()
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