| Author: | Philip McLaren | ISBN: | 1230000199073 |
| Publisher: | Cockatoo Books | Publication: | November 27, 2013 |
| Imprint: | Language: | English |
| Author: | Philip McLaren |
| ISBN: | 1230000199073 |
| Publisher: | Cockatoo Books |
| Publication: | November 27, 2013 |
| Imprint: | |
| Language: | English |
Prize winning author of seven books, Philip McLaren returns to the historical novel after an absence of 22 years. Based on research that is noted in his bibliography, he presents this controversial story about ‘Toby’, a respected black horseman from the Snowy River. He tells the story using what he calls a docu-fiction narrative.
In real life this young aboriginal Australian rode the high plateaus and steep-mountain gorges chasing brumbies. His feats became legendary, documented and dated about two years before Paterson began writing his iconic poem after visiting the region gathering material. Paterson’s only description of ‘the man’ is that he is a ‘stripling’.
While this story is about Toby, it also features Kurnai leader, Bunjileenee and Lauren Tucker, the enigmatic white woman, his consort for life, who in real life he rescued from a shipwreck on his tribal beach at the mouth of the Snowy River.
It tells of the settlement of Gippsland, Victoria and of celebrated explorer Angus McMillan who has at least eight monuments erected in his honour, who with his gang of vigilantes was responsible for the slaughter of hundreds of Snowy River families.
It’s about chasing and breaking brumbies for cavalry use in India and the Omeo gold rush; professional foot running and portraits of the real-life characters from that time and place.
It is also a love story; Aboriginals Toby and Louise wrestle with how they might fit into the new Australia of British imperialism.
Most of all, it is the story of one young man’s feat of such outstanding horsemanship when masked, he entered Australian history, literature and legend.
Prize winning author of seven books, Philip McLaren returns to the historical novel after an absence of 22 years. Based on research that is noted in his bibliography, he presents this controversial story about ‘Toby’, a respected black horseman from the Snowy River. He tells the story using what he calls a docu-fiction narrative.
In real life this young aboriginal Australian rode the high plateaus and steep-mountain gorges chasing brumbies. His feats became legendary, documented and dated about two years before Paterson began writing his iconic poem after visiting the region gathering material. Paterson’s only description of ‘the man’ is that he is a ‘stripling’.
While this story is about Toby, it also features Kurnai leader, Bunjileenee and Lauren Tucker, the enigmatic white woman, his consort for life, who in real life he rescued from a shipwreck on his tribal beach at the mouth of the Snowy River.
It tells of the settlement of Gippsland, Victoria and of celebrated explorer Angus McMillan who has at least eight monuments erected in his honour, who with his gang of vigilantes was responsible for the slaughter of hundreds of Snowy River families.
It’s about chasing and breaking brumbies for cavalry use in India and the Omeo gold rush; professional foot running and portraits of the real-life characters from that time and place.
It is also a love story; Aboriginals Toby and Louise wrestle with how they might fit into the new Australia of British imperialism.
Most of all, it is the story of one young man’s feat of such outstanding horsemanship when masked, he entered Australian history, literature and legend.
