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The Secret River
- Narrated by: Paul Blackwell
- Length: 10 hrs and 44 mins
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Publisher's Summary
In 1806 William Thornhill, a man of quick temper and deep feelings, is transported from the slums of London to New South Wales for the term of his natural life. With his wife, Sal, and their children he arrives in a harsh land he cannot understand. But the colony can turn a convict into a free man. Eight years later Thornhill sails up the Hawkesbury to claim 100 acres for himself.
Aboriginal people already live on that river. And other recent arrivals - Thomas Blackwood, Smasher Sullivan, and Mrs Herring - are finding their own ways to respond to them. Thornhill, a man neither better nor worse than most, soon has to make the most difficult choice of his life.
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Average Customer RatingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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- A E RIDGWAY
- 01-06-2023
What a story!
Everything about this book is excellent I was gripped from beginning to end. What an eye-opener!
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- Margaret
- 10-10-2016
Wonderful vivid story telling!
Beautifully written and evocative Grenville has imagined us into the past. If you fancy a visit to early nineteenth century London, the penal colony of New South Wales and wondered what it must have been like to be a convict, an early settler on the Hawksbury River and whatever happened to the indigenous Australians who had lived there for many thousands of years; read this book! Sympathetic, complex and courageous writing. Highly recommended.
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6 people found this helpful
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- Emma
- 28-02-2023
Terrific story and performance
What a story, performance and journey. It highlights the gut wrenching truth of our Australian history, while giving insight to the desperate lives that shaped it.
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- Jaidee
- 08-05-2023
Top shelf writing
I felt like a was within the story, through all the harsh and brutal realities of the era. Wonderful writing and narration. It’s not an easy story to listen to, but we can’t ignore our past and this fictional story rings all too true.
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- Lesley
- 29-06-2016
Absolutely enthralling.
Fantastic narration. A captivating story which explores a brutal new world that is colonial Australia.
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1 person found this helpful
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- William Revie
- 19-12-2020
Great book
beautifully written. I would highly recommend this book. Found it hard to put down. Great story
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- Anonymon
- 22-12-2020
Wonderful story
Kate wrote a book so poignant and deep, its difficult to review.
I'm sure it could have really taken place in early settler days.
Paul turned a great story into a very special experience. Thanks to both.
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- cloud mountain
- 25-01-2022
A dark history of settlement
An interesting take on Australia’s colonists and their interaction with the first peoples of Australia. Harsh and cruel it is hard to listen to these truths.
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- Beverley
- 08-10-2020
Australiana
An engaging story that seemed to rush to a rather vague ending.
I felt like it never quite made its message clear so was left feeling a little incomplete. The narration was very enjoyable. Overall a good read.
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5 people found this helpful
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- Mrs
- 15-12-2015
Superb book, beautifully read.
This is a thoroughly enjoyable book. The narration is excellent and the book itself is moving, revealing and a explores a crucial and devastating part off Australia's history.
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2 people found this helpful