Using current knowledge of the times of the early British settlement of the Sydney & Hawkesbury River region and the interactions between white and black, Grenville has built a credible and tense tale woven around the story of one man who grew up impoverished and desperate. She has developed the tale around the conflicted attitudes of whites to the native residents of the region and how massacres came to be accepted as a way to "resolve" differences. ( )

A thoroughly human and deeply awful look into the minds of European settlers. ( )

Had to read for school. It's very long, very dense and very boring. ( )

This is a story of the beginnings of colonialism in Australia. It opens in 1803 in England, where protagonist William Thornhill is meets and marries Sal. Their lives take a downward turn, and he is convicted of theft. Usually the penalty is hanging, but instead, he and his family are transported to Australia to serve his sentence. Eventually he obtains an opportunity to start farming a piece of land. The main thrust of the storyline is how the settlers interact with the native people.

Sal wants to return to England, which she still considers home. William wants to own the land. The land, including two nearby rivers, is difficult terrain to cultivate and it becomes almost a character unto itself. The relationship between humans and land is a primary theme. A sense of foreboding is generated, as the reader can feel the escalating tensions, which will force a confrontation.

The protagonist comes across as someone who wants to do his best to get along with everyone. He is not an evil man, though I cannot say the same for some of his neighbors. Communication is an issue. The concept of land ownership is an issue. Racism is an issue. And the reader can probably guess where it is all headed. It is a book about how a person can end up acting against principles. There are sections that are difficult to read due to hatred and horrific violence. I think it is a fine piece of writing.
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I found it difficult to relate to the characters or feel for them, including the black natives. The story was historically interesting and the situation sadly destined for tragedy, but I wish it had been told with more depth of feeling. ( )