Following the success of The Secret River, Grenville's latest novel is a story loosely based on fact, following the young Daniel Rooke travelling to Australia to set up an observatory. Rooke has been trying to find his place in society and when he starts to integrate with the Aborigines feels he has found something worthwhile at last. However, this is still a time where his loyalties will be tested. Beautifully written, with evocative descriptive prose, perfect for any reading group.
Click the screen below to view a video of Kate Grenville talking about The Lieutenant.
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In 1788 Daniel Rooke sets out on a journey that will change the course of his life. As a lieutenant in the First Fleet, he lands on the wild and unknown shores of New South Wales. There he sets up an observatory to chart the stars. But this country will prove far more revelatory than the skies above.
Based on real events, The Lieutenant tells the unforgettable story of Rooke's connection to an Aboriginal child - a remarkable friendship that resonates across the oceans and the centuries.
Kate Grenville was born in Sydney. Her most recent novel, The Idea of Perfection, won the Orange Prize for Fiction and became a long-running bestseller. Her five other works of fiction have won numerous awards. Kate Grenville lives in Sydney with her family.
Quite honestly words fail me when it comes to Kate Grenville’s Secret River. It stands alone. It is exemplary. We are whisked away from England in the company of convicted criminal William Thornhill and his wife, Sal, to a convict colony in Sydney, Australia. It is there that he settles with his family, determined to work the land and make a good life for himself. But he soon comes into conflict with the native Aborigines. It is a treasure this story, told in my opinion by one of the finest writers I have ever read.
