William Buckley and a novel
from w
Yesterday I read Robertson's take on William Buckley and it's quite a good read, interesting also because of the place names such as Connewarre and the Barwon River. We've seen his cave, and Buckley Falls etc. The novel is based on Morgan's story from over 160 years ago, and it has been reprinted a few times with different cover designs. The early 'white' settlement of Melbourne and Geelong is painted as a time of the land grab that ignored the view that this is Aboriginal land. A TV film was also made on the life of Buckley.
Buckley’s Hope
Yesterday I read Robertson's take on William Buckley and it's quite a good read, interesting also because of the place names such as Connewarre and the Barwon River. We've seen his cave, and Buckley Falls etc. The novel is based on Morgan's story from over 160 years ago, and it has been reprinted a few times with different cover designs. The early 'white' settlement of Melbourne and Geelong is painted as a time of the land grab that ignored the view that this is Aboriginal land. A TV film was also made on the life of Buckley.
Buckley’s Hope
A NOVEL Craig Robertson ‘Combines the conflicting elements of Australia’s black and white cultures in a uniquely authentic way … An appealing and sensitive novel … he has succeeded masterfully.’
PAUL ORMONDE, Herald Sun
This is a historical novel, based
on the true story of a young English convict named William Buckley who, on
Boxing Day 1803, escaped from Victoria’s abortive first settlement at Sorrento
and then survived in the wilderness for thirty-two years, mainly because he was
adopted and helped by local aboriginal tribes.
In 1835 Buckley emerged with his
tribal friends to meet Melbourne’s founders, and quickly became an important
guide and interpreter in the crucial first years of the European conquest of
the Port Phillip region. Suddenly, trapped in the rapidly ensuing conflict
between two vastly different societies, Buckley found himself mistrusted by his
former black friends and by his white compatriots. He was so harshly reviled
that his reputation has suffered to this day.
With great sensitivity, and based
on meticulous research, Craig Robertson has recreated the fateful encounter
between Australia’s ‘wild white man’ and the original inhabitants of the
continent. Remarkably, through Buckley’s eyes we can see how much was at stake
and how much was lost when two worlds collided. The enthralling story of
William Buckley’s odyssey continues to haunt and challenge us all.
Buckley’s Hope was originally
published by Scribe in 1980, and has never been out of print.
posted by Peceli and Wendy's Blog at 5:12 PM
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