Her mother whom her father loved deeply died in child birth and her father would tell her they didn’t need anyone else but each other and where they lived in the high country. Except for the local vicar and his kindly wife who helped out when her father had to go away for work. As the story progresses there is an unexpected conspiratorial twist when this couple turn on Molly.

Once she reached the age of 16 her father finds her a husband in the hope that it will secure Molly’s future, but the husband Joe Johnson is already in his thirties and is a drover. Molly find this an agreeable arrangement, she only wanted to marry a drover for the status it gave her. She liked the freedom of not having a husband around her all the time, but she also wanted to be married so she could have a large family, something she longed for as a child.

Leah Purcells’ story telling is quite gripping, as if she was basing this on people she may have known or through ancestry. The skilfully constructed story weaves in the dreadful way in which indigenous people were treated, including and especially those of mixed blood by both sides. At times I caught myself shaking my head in wonder at the cruel attitudes and treatment which, although this is a novel seems is based on truth.

Life is hard for Molly Johnson with only a dog called Alligator and a shotgun for protection, but she is a kind and loving woman. She adores her children, showering them with love and care in her shanty dirt floor home and will do anything to protect them. Even shooting a bull between the eyes as he prepares to attack the family. Twelve year old Danny, her eldest child loves being his ma’s right hand man. They don’t have much to live on but they do have the closeness of family love.

When a strange and suspicious black man and story keeper, Yadaka, arrives at her remote shanty deep in the bush just as she is about to give birth to her fifth child, her protectiveness escalates and the tension rises. He is wearing “the collar”, an escaped prisoner and clearly in a great deal of pain from wounds, but she wants him gone. Now. As far away as possible. 

 He becomes a major character in the story, eventually, shockingly to Molly and over time, she find that he has secrets about her own family history. Yadaka befriends Danny and teaches him practical things that his father the drover should do but doesn’t because he spends very little time at home with his family. 

The new local police sergeant Nathaniel Clintoff (Nate), with his wife Louisa and young son are brought here from England, enticed from their comfortable home and life in London, by the idea of a nice easy going job keeping the peace in a small town in the Snowy Mountains. 

Nathaniel was injured during the Boer War in South Africa and has been desk bound for years which he dislikes. The idea of an easy going life on the other side of the world seems appealing. They are warmly welcomed on their arrival in Melbourne with a ball held in their honour and then they have to make their way up to the town of Everton. This becomes quite an adventure as they traverse flooded rivers. On arrival in town Nathaniel gets more than he bargained for - what a start to a new job and life!

Louisa comes from family of publishers in England and she wants to continue her work writing a journal for women, especially battered wives to help them. Her own sister was a battered wife. Eventually Molly Johnson reads the article during her time in goal. The reason why and the events that led to her being held in custody and the outcome is heart wrenching.

This is an enjoyable and entertaining well-written book which encompassing all aspects of life in the era and I was quite sad when it ended. However, it took a few chapters to get into the roll and feel of the story. Occasionally some words used seemed out of context with the time in which this is set and more in keeping with the modern era.

If you are looking for a good story to get lost in with many aspects of Australian history you will probably enjoy The Drover’s Wife.It first made into a play which premiered at the Belvoir Street Theatre and has been made into a movie. 

 The Driver’s Wife won the New South Wales Premier’s Literary Award for Playwriting and Book of the Year; the Victorian Premier’s Literary Award for Drama and the Victorian Prize for Literature; the Australian Writers’ Guild Award for Best Stage Work, Major Work and the David Williamson Prize for Excellence in Writing for Australian Theatre; the Helpmann Award for Best Play and Best New Australian Work; and the Sydney–UNESCO City of Film Award. 

This is independent review, I am not paid by the publishers, so.If you Liked this review, Buy me a coffee

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