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We publish books that matter — narrative and literary nonfiction on important topics, and the best of local, international, and translated fiction.

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Buckley’s Hope

a novel
Craig Robertson

“Combines the conflicting elements of Australia’s black and white cultures in a uniquely authentic way…An appealing and sensitive novel…he has succeeded masterfully.”

Paul Ormonde, Herald Sun

This is a historical novel, based on the true story of a young English convict named William Buckley who, on Boxing Day 1803, escaped from Victoria’s abortive first settlement at Sorrento and then survived in the wilderness for thirty-two years, mainly because he was adopted and helped by local aboriginal tribes.

In 1835 Buckley emerged with his tribal friends to meet Melbourne’s founders, and quickly became an important guide and interpreter in the crucial first years of the European conquest of the Port Phillip region. Suddenly, trapped in the rapidly ensuing conflict between two vastly different societies, Buckley found himself mistrusted by his former black friends and by his white compatriots. He was so harshly reviled that his reputation has suffered to this day.

With great sensitivity, and based on meticulous research, Craig Robertson has recreated the fateful encounter between Australia’s ‘wild white man’ and the original inhabitants of the continent. Remarkably, through Buckley’s eyes we can see how much was at stake and how much was lost when two worlds collided. The enthralling story of William Buckley’s odyssey continues to haunt and challenge us all.

Buckley’s Hope was originally published by Scribe in 1980, and has never been out of print.

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Details

Format:Paperback

Size: 7.8in × 5.04in

Extent:304pp

ISBN (13):9780908011315

RRP:$14.95

Pub date:31 Jul 2002

High-res cover:Download Image

AWARDS

CATEGORIES / tags

FICTION / General FICTION / Historical / General FICTION / Indigenous / General

AUTHOR

Craig Robertson

Craig Robertson is a technical writer who documents computerised information systems. He lives in Melbourne, and is also the author of Song of Gondwana, published by Penguin in 1989.

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