The Secret River

by Kate Grenville | Literature & Fiction |
ISBN: 0857860844 Global Overview for this book
Registered by wingsatay-spiesswing of Hamburg - Osdorf, Hamburg Germany on 4/24/2016
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1 journaler for this copy...
Journal Entry 1 by wingsatay-spiesswing from Hamburg - Osdorf, Hamburg Germany on Sunday, April 24, 2016
In 1806 London thief William Thornhill is transported to Australia. Once there he earns his freedom and settles on what looks like empty land.

But the land belongs to the Darug people, and they're prepared to defend it. He can't go back, but how can he go forward?

The choice Thornhill makes will haunt him for the rest of his life.

Inspired by the autor's familiy history, "The Secret River" is a classic novel about our nation's past.

Journal Entry 2 by wingsatay-spiesswing at Hamburg - Osdorf, Hamburg Germany on Sunday, April 24, 2016
This book is my Australia-souvenir from 2014. I was very impressed that in Australia (at least in Melbourne) you can find dedicated Australian authors book-shelfs! Amongst 10 books or so I was recommended I chose this one.

I didn't expect that the first quarter of the book takes place in England. But of course it's important to know out of which circumstances the people came to Australia. With today's knowledge it's unbelievable how ignorant the British settlers were. Even after realizing that "the blacks" do not work from dusk till dawn, but nevertheless do not starve and have time for a relaxed familiy life, didn't lead to any changes in habits. What a pity, that the one Thornhill-child, who obviously was in contact with the native neighbours, couldn't establish the connection. What would have happened, if the new settlers would have had respected the natives? Would it have been possible not to displace and nearly wipe out the natives? I can't imagine, looking at today's Australian population.
Nevertheless I have respect for those settlers. Okay, they didn't really have the chance to go back to European life, but to set up one's life out of nothing must be a hard life!

Journal Entry 3 by wingsatay-spiesswing at Hamburg - Osdorf, Hamburg Germany on Saturday, August 13, 2022
This book is not in my possession anymore. Must have released it ...

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