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  • The Drover's Wife

  • The Legend of Molly Johnson
  • By: Leah Purcell
  • Narrated by: Leah Purcell
  • Length: 9 hrs and 17 mins
  • 4.8 out of 5 stars (1,732 ratings)

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The Drover's Wife

By: Leah Purcell
Narrated by: Leah Purcell
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Publisher's Summary

Deep in the heart of Australia's high country, along an ancient, hidden track, lives Molly Johnson and her four surviving children, another on the way. Husband Joe is away months at a time droving livestock up north, leaving his family in the bush to fend for itself. Molly's children are her world, and life is hard and precarious with only their dog, Alligator, and a shotgun for protection - but it can be harder when Joe's around. 

At just 12 years of age, Molly's eldest son, Danny, is the true man of the house, determined to see his mother and siblings safe - from raging floodwaters, hunger and intruders, man and reptile. Danny is mature beyond his years, but there are some things no child should see. He knows more than most just what it takes to be a drover's wife. 

One night, under the moon's watch, Molly has a visitor of a different kind - a Black 'story keeper', Yadaka. He's on the run from authorities in the nearby town, and exchanges kindness for shelter. Both know that justice in this nation caught between two worlds can be as brutal as its landscape. But in their short time together, Yadaka shows Molly a secret truth, and the strength to imagine a different path. 

Full of fury and power, Leah Purcell's The Drover's Wife: The Legend of Molly Johnson is a brave reimagining of the Henry Lawson short story that has become an Australian classic. Brilliantly plotted, it is a compelling thriller of our pioneering past that confronts head-on issues of today: race, gender, violence and inheritance.

©2021 Leah Purcell (P)2021 Penguin Random House Australia

What listeners say about The Drover's Wife

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Wow! Powerful & Moving

The Drover’s Wife is storytelling at it’s best!

I was struck by how skilfully this story was written and how masterfully it was told!!
It had captured me from the very first line (I love Snow Gums too) and held my interest to the very end.

Leah’s reading was heartfelt and authentic - it was clear which of the many characters was talking and how they were feeling by her different voices -
Basically, she nailed it!

I was mesmerised by her beautiful vivid descriptions of the scenery putting me right there and the emotions this authentically Australian story evoked, were powerful ones!!!

Outstanding all round Leah - and the beauty is I could feel the strength, the pride and the compassion of the story teller :)

Thank you for telling this story

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10 people found this helpful

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    4 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars

Too miserable for words

If you want a story that never fails to deliver on rape, violence and all manner of abuse, this is the book for you. I found it utterly miserable from start to finish.

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9 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

The best Australian story in years

Heart-warming, tragic and truly Australian. The best Australian story in years. Perfectly narrated. Can't wait for the next one!

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3 people found this helpful

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    4 out of 5 stars
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Depicts the hard times even 100 years after settlement

Yet another example of a sad part of our history. Very well written and the performance of Leah couldn’t have been better portraying the different voices. Clever lady all round. I can’t say I enjoyed the story with the amount of violence committed by human beings but as I said, unfortunately that is part of history, and it’s gone on all over the world and still is of course, in Ukraine, at the moment.
Such hard times for women makes me appreciate even more, my life today in Australia where due to women like Louisa, things gradually changed for the better.

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1 person found this helpful

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    4 out of 5 stars
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great Australian story

a wonderful fictional insight into the tough life of the white pioneers and the heartbreaking treatment of the traditional owners of our land. loved the use of traditional language and respect given to the hardship experiences of the Indigenous people and women of the times.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Deadly History

Well performed. Well written. An unveiling of cultural truths in the telling. I look forward to seeing it on the big screen.

On many occasions I caught myself in awe of the author's ability to create vivid word pictures describing characters and Country. I also respect and applaud the natural blending of language.

The narration / narrator is truly gifted in both word and song.

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1 person found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Wonderful yarn

I loved hearing the different perspectives of this story.
The story was very well delivered by the author.
Great to hear First Nation language delivered well. The yarn helps the listener to understand culture and connection with country.
I do hope Leah writes another great yarn.

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1 person found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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My most favourite book so far.

A truly inspiring story, I didn’t want it to end. Perfectly narrated and highly recommended.

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1 person found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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headline

loved it cant wait for her next novel.
loved the blending of cultures.
the raw honesty and power of a mothers love

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Wonderful

So well written. Loved it and didn’t want it to end. The narration perfect. The description of landscape breathtaking. Recommend this book.

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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.