Call number
FIC KEN
Collection
Genres
Publication
Nan A. Talese (1995), 324 pages
Description
In turn-of-the-century Australia, Tim Shea supports his young family by running a general store in a remote riverside town, where he finds the same hypocrisy and snobbery which made him emigrate from Ireland, and suffers a series of misfortunes which take him to the brink of disaster. Capturing the spirit of the times, this is the mesmerising tale of a flawed hero whose stubborn integrity is nearly his undoing.
Subjects
User reviews
LibraryThing member lamour
Tim Shea has left Ireland for Australia at the turn of the Century to escape the strict social confines of that country. However in Australia he runs into questions about his loyalty to the Empire, the reason behind his acts of kindness and his concern for a murdered young woman whose identity has
When he is the only man in town when a local farmer is critically injured and is honoured as a hero for helping the man's children, he becomes the focus of attention of those who dislike the Irish. The town leaders delay paying their bills and damage his reputation with his suppliers. The farmer's girl he helped becomes a problem for him and eventually commits suicide while with his family.
There is as well the East Indian paddler who becomes his friend and savior and provides some of the humour in the story. Keneally based some of the novel on his grandfather's experiences.
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not been discovered which leads to harassment from the local constable.When he is the only man in town when a local farmer is critically injured and is honoured as a hero for helping the man's children, he becomes the focus of attention of those who dislike the Irish. The town leaders delay paying their bills and damage his reputation with his suppliers. The farmer's girl he helped becomes a problem for him and eventually commits suicide while with his family.
There is as well the East Indian paddler who becomes his friend and savior and provides some of the humour in the story. Keneally based some of the novel on his grandfather's experiences.
Show Less
LibraryThing member lamour
Tim Shea has left Ireland for Australia at the turn of the Century to escape the strict social confines of that country. However in Australia he runs into questions about his loyalty to the Empire, the reason behind his acts of kindness and his concern for a murdered young woman whose identity has
When he is the only man in town when a local farmer is critically injured and is honoured as a hero for helping the man's children, he becomes the focus of attention of those who dislike the Irish. The town leaders delay paying their bills and damage his reputation with his suppliers. The farmer's girl he helped becomes a problem for him and eventually commits suicide while with his family.
There is as well the East Indian paddler who becomes his friend and savior and provides some of the humour in the story. Keneally based some of the novel on his grandfather's experiences.
Show More
not been discovered which leads to harassment from the local constable.When he is the only man in town when a local farmer is critically injured and is honoured as a hero for helping the man's children, he becomes the focus of attention of those who dislike the Irish. The town leaders delay paying their bills and damage his reputation with his suppliers. The farmer's girl he helped becomes a problem for him and eventually commits suicide while with his family.
There is as well the East Indian paddler who becomes his friend and savior and provides some of the humour in the story. Keneally based some of the novel on his grandfather's experiences.
Show Less
Awards
Dublin Literary Award (Longlist — 1997)
Pages
324
ISBN
0385476965 / 9780385476966