SOONTO BE A MAJOR MOTION PICTURE The international bestseller, Booker Prize winner, and winner of the 2001 Commonwealth Writers' Prize for Best Book. Out of 19th century Australia rides a hero of his people and a man for all nations: Ned Kelly, the son of poor Irish immigrants, viewed by the authorities as a thief (especially of horses) and, as a cold-blooded killer. To the people, though, he was a patriot hounded unfairly by rich English landlords and their stooges. In the end, Kelly and his so-called gang (his younger ...
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SOONTO BE A MAJOR MOTION PICTURE The international bestseller, Booker Prize winner, and winner of the 2001 Commonwealth Writers' Prize for Best Book. Out of 19th century Australia rides a hero of his people and a man for all nations: Ned Kelly, the son of poor Irish immigrants, viewed by the authorities as a thief (especially of horses) and, as a cold-blooded killer. To the people, though, he was a patriot hounded unfairly by rich English landlords and their stooges. In the end, Kelly and his so-called gang (his younger brother and two friends) led a massive police manhunt on a wild goose chase that lasted twenty months, in which Ned's talents as a bushman were augmented by bank robberies and the support of nearly everyone not in a uniform. His one demand - for which he would have surrendered himself was his jailed mother's freedom. Executed by hanging more than a century ago, speaking as if from the grave, Kelly still resonates as the most potent legend in the land down under.
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I've almost finished this novel, and it is extraordinary--a wonderful job of presenting an Australian outlaw who became a sort of Robin Hood of the 19th century. Great characterization and a marvel of first person narration. Ned Kelly's voice is unforgettable. Not always an easy read, but certainly a worthwhile one.
Donovan S
Oct 20, 2011
Fantastic! Read the book cover to cover!
Never wanted to read this book until I came across a new article on the internet about finding the bones of Ned Kelly. Peaked my curiosity. Great book! I love the dialog, wonderful. You are there. I hated to reach the end of the story. One of those books you just read by chance and it turns out to be one of your favs.
