Restless Dolly Maunder cover art

Restless Dolly Maunder

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Restless Dolly Maunder

By: Kate Grenville
Narrated by: Federay Holmes
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About this listen

 SHORTLISTED FOR THE WOMEN'S PRIZE FOR FICTION 2024
A DAILY MAIL NOVEL OF THE YEAR 2023
LONGLISTED FOR BEST FICTION IN THE INDIE BOOK AWARDS AUSTRALIA 2024

Born into the sweat and drudgery of a New South Wales sheep farm at the end of the 19th century, Dolly Maunder is different to her siblings. She will not endure the small, servile existence of a wife. Dolly, bright, ambitious and stubborn, dreams of a different fate, of building something that she truly owns.

She will do whatever it takes to be the woman she deserves to be. Even with a husband and children, Dolly pushes the boundaries of what is ‘proper’ and what a wife and mother ought to do, as war spreads across Europe and the rules are forever changed. But every life has its limits. What happens when Dolly’s wanderlust finally risks taking her too far?The non-fiction version of Dolly's story is also available on Audible: Always Greener: The Restless Life of Dolly Russell here.©2024 Kate Grenville (P)2024 Canongate Books Ltd Biographical Fiction Genre Fiction Small Town & Rural Women's Voices

Critic Reviews

'Vivid and memorable . . . [Kate Grenville] offers us the ambivalence and complex textures of experience without losing the rhythm and pace of realist fiction' (SARAH MOSS)
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I can’t praise this book enough. It starts rather slowly but stay with it as you go on a magical ride. Simultaneously I was reading “The Idea of Perfection “, my night time read in bed. Now I’m quite bereft as I’ve finished bot, but have downloaded “Secret River” and am saving it to listen to on my journey from Victoria to northern New South Wales. Ms Grenville’s words resonate so strongly having been born in 1951, I know what she writes and why. She honours our foremothers in a way no-one else has. You feel Australia all around you, even smell it, our wonderful country of hard working honest people when you read or listen to the words. “A Room of Leaves” is another excellent book written with Ms Grenville’s ability to take you to that place. She truly respects our indigenous population and for that alone I adore her. Long may she write to educate and inspire.

Thoroughly researched, beautifully written as one expects from Kate Grenville. Honesty. An absolute gem.

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I loved Kate Grenville’s authentic story of the place of real women in Australia in the 20th century. Highly recommended.

An Authentic story of Australia

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What an amazing story capturing a ‘woman’s lot’ at the turn of the century. A beautifully written book very thoughtfully narrated.

Unremarkable yet extraordinary story

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Dolly was born about the same time as one of my grandmothers, and like her, Kit faced dreadful circumstances, was probably flawed, but survived. A celebration of women who did not give up. Well done Kate Grenville- you are a star, and so was Dolly.

The woman who survived

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In the spirit of reconciliation, Audible acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.