Patchouli Memsahib: One Australian Woman's Journey

by Fabia Claridge

Escape into a rich world of family intrigue and self-discovery that reaches across three centuries and across cultures. This unique tale draws us gently into itself but it also stimulates discussion about other important issues that remain current. At a time when Australia had its back turned on Asia and when White Australia buried its origins, a curious girl refused to accept the stuffy options on offer and reached out beyond the confines of her known world in search of love and something more. It began as an escape but became a much deeper quest. Her adventures took her from Australia to Bougainville, Indonesia, Hong Kong, Bangladesh and Thailand as she collided with love, betrayal, political flashpoints and destiny in a journey of metamorphosis. Given a pack of cards that dictate our gender, place of birth, time of birth, that can spell poverty, revolution, persecution or comfort, love and ease, how do each of us manage these and what chance is there of rising above them through the choices we make? Is our fate written? Do we let our shadows lead us to repeat our mistakes? What power do we have to create our own destiny? What is it that all human beings want most despite culture and so-called accidents of birth? Is it just to eat, pray and love or to give something more to the world around them?

270 pages, Paperback

Published March 11, 2023

Reviews

[Robin Bower · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a brilliant memoir. This curious girl’s story moves from privileged beginnings overlooking Sydney harbor in a house with a hundred-year-old garden, to a governess job in Bougainville, university and Indonesia in the time of race riots, a nascent marriage in Hong Kong, then Bangladesh, Thailand and back to Sydney. Across decades, of political and cultural turmoil, of understanding life outside Australia, of falling in love, and loving her children, Fabia takes the reader on a poignant and evocative journey like no other. Her writing is divine and she is a gifted storyteller. Highly recommended.

[Anna Rahman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyed reading Patchouli Memsahib by Fabia Claridge. What problems she had with Max then Kiet, a lesser soul would have crumbled but the writer is very honest about herself. It may be fictionalised but the book reads like an autobiography. Loved the child's view of the garden, and the poem as introduction, and the re-found Nasir as epilogue. Enough withheld info to create a bit of suspense here and there. The full prediction found again in the move; that acted as intro to trials to come and then cleverly as summary. A well written book and a good read.