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The Currency Lads
'The master of the Australia historical blockbuster'.
DAILY TELEGRAPH
Daniel Johnson and Matthew Conway are currency lads – born and bred in the new land now being called Australia. Closer than brothers, they harbour a secret that binds them for life. But change is coming. When the British government resolves to turn back the clock and renew convict transportation, Daniel and Matthew find themselves on opposite sides of a fierce conflict that threatens to tear their friendship apart.
Set in the bustling maritime world of 1830s Sydney, and spanning two decades, this is an unforgettable novel of loyalty and love that captures the spirit and energy of early Australia.
'A ripping great yarn, featuring characters with depth and storylines to match.'
WEEKENDER
'Combines the facts of a turbulent part of Australia's history with a moving and often riveting fictional narrative.'
GOLD COAST BULLETIN
DAILY TELEGRAPH
Daniel Johnson and Matthew Conway are currency lads – born and bred in the new land now being called Australia. Closer than brothers, they harbour a secret that binds them for life. But change is coming. When the British government resolves to turn back the clock and renew convict transportation, Daniel and Matthew find themselves on opposite sides of a fierce conflict that threatens to tear their friendship apart.
Set in the bustling maritime world of 1830s Sydney, and spanning two decades, this is an unforgettable novel of loyalty and love that captures the spirit and energy of early Australia.
'A ripping great yarn, featuring characters with depth and storylines to match.'
WEEKENDER
'Combines the facts of a turbulent part of Australia's history with a moving and often riveting fictional narrative.'
GOLD COAST BULLETIN
610 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1998
72 people want to read
About the author
Peter Yeldham
24 books17 followersPeter Yeldham has been a writer since the age of seventeen, when he wrote short stories and radio scripts. He went to England, intending to stay a year and stayed nearly twenty, writing for British television in the nineteen sixties, then feature films and stage plays, including the highly successful “Birds on the Wing” and “Fringe Benefits” which ran for two years in Paris. He has written another five plays for the theatre and collaborated on the musical “Seven Little Australians.”
His Australian work includes numerous mini-series, among them 1915, Captain James Cook, The Alien Years, All the Rivers Run, The Heroes, Heroes ll – The Return, The Far Country, Run from the Morning, The Timeless Land, Ride on Stranger and The Battlers. He adapted Bryce Courtenay’s novel Jessica which won the 2005 Logie award for best mini-series. He is the author of eight previous novels, which include A Bitter Harvest, Without Warning, The Currency Lads, Against The Tide, and The Murrumbidgee Kid.
In 1991 he received an Order of Australia Medal for achievement in film and television, and in 2003 a Centenary Medal for services to Australian writing. Industry honours include six Australian Writing Awards, a British Guild Award , and a nomination for an International Emmy for his television drama, Captain James Cook.
His Australian work includes numerous mini-series, among them 1915, Captain James Cook, The Alien Years, All the Rivers Run, The Heroes, Heroes ll – The Return, The Far Country, Run from the Morning, The Timeless Land, Ride on Stranger and The Battlers. He adapted Bryce Courtenay’s novel Jessica which won the 2005 Logie award for best mini-series. He is the author of eight previous novels, which include A Bitter Harvest, Without Warning, The Currency Lads, Against The Tide, and The Murrumbidgee Kid.
In 1991 he received an Order of Australia Medal for achievement in film and television, and in 2003 a Centenary Medal for services to Australian writing. Industry honours include six Australian Writing Awards, a British Guild Award , and a nomination for an International Emmy for his television drama, Captain James Cook.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
April 7, 2015
"Set in the bustling maritime world of 1830's Sydney, and spanning two decades, this is an unforgettable novel of loyalty and love that captures the spirit and energy of early Australia".
The cover description says enough without spoilers.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book as I have with other books by Peter Yeldham, I like his style of writing.
This fictional story gives a good description of what the early days of 1830's life in Sydney and surrounds were like, and is a good source of of information on how such terms as "Currency lads and lasses" were derived.
Highly recommended 4.5 ★s.
April 6, 2015
Having a great interest in this period, I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. The title of this book takes its name from the term used to describe the first generations of Australians born to convicts – the gentry and settlers considered a higher currency of “sterling”.
Set in the 1830s around Sydney the story follows two currency lads who meet as ten year olds. Convict transportation has stopped a decade before, but the gentry, ex-marines, free settlers and those who have found their fortunes from the use of convict labour wish for a return of transportation to further their coffers, which brings the next wave of convicts termed “exiles” to a colony where the majority are trying to escape their convict past.
This book does a brilliant job of invoking early Sydney, the difference in classes, corruption of officials, the brutality many women suffered, and overall the spirit most Australians retain to this day—our sense of independence from the rest of the world, a want to make our own way in the world, and a lack of respect for restraints aimed at stopping us becoming who we want.
Set in the 1830s around Sydney the story follows two currency lads who meet as ten year olds. Convict transportation has stopped a decade before, but the gentry, ex-marines, free settlers and those who have found their fortunes from the use of convict labour wish for a return of transportation to further their coffers, which brings the next wave of convicts termed “exiles” to a colony where the majority are trying to escape their convict past.
This book does a brilliant job of invoking early Sydney, the difference in classes, corruption of officials, the brutality many women suffered, and overall the spirit most Australians retain to this day—our sense of independence from the rest of the world, a want to make our own way in the world, and a lack of respect for restraints aimed at stopping us becoming who we want.
January 1, 2016
4.5 stars. This was a wonderful read - I could just picture myself back in the middle of 19th century Sydney. They were brutal times - when an investigation for a murderer was only cursory if the victim appeared to be no one of importance, when working-class women were beaten and raped by their husbands with no one batting an eye, when the justice (if there was any) was often rough justice, when “justice” was often corrupt.
This was an engrossing read. At almost 600 pages, it wasn’t a short read, but the pages did fly by without tedium. And when I had to put the book down, I was always keen to pick it up again.
I enjoyed the plot, I enjoyed Peter Yeldham’s writing, I liked some of the characters and enjoyed disliking some of the other characters. I am very interested to continue reading more of Peter Yeldham’s work.
This was an engrossing read. At almost 600 pages, it wasn’t a short read, but the pages did fly by without tedium. And when I had to put the book down, I was always keen to pick it up again.
I enjoyed the plot, I enjoyed Peter Yeldham’s writing, I liked some of the characters and enjoyed disliking some of the other characters. I am very interested to continue reading more of Peter Yeldham’s work.
October 8, 2025
Set in early Australia, this book centres around the children of convicts trying to make something of themselves in a growing colony.
I enjoyed this look at early life in the settlement.
I enjoyed this look at early life in the settlement.
July 25, 2016
Cercavo da diverso tempo questo romanzo, soprattutto perché affascinata dalla sua ambientazione. Del resto appartengo alla generazione di ragazzine cresciute con “Georgie”…il cartone giapponese più “pruriginoso” che Mediaset abbia mai trasmesso!
L’ho intravisto in una libreria remainder e l’ho preso al volo, visto che era da anni fuori commercio.
Sin dai primi capitoli mi rendo conto dell’enorme equivoco: non solo non si tratta di un romanzo rosa (e questo, non mi dispiaceva nemmeno), ma è quanto di più lontano dal romanzo rosa si possa immaginare. E non solo perché è scritto da un uomo e ha come protagonisti due giovani uomini (i “currency lads” del titolo originale, figli liberi di deportati inglesi). Per le storie d’amore non c’è proprio spazio. Sì, uno dei due protagonisti prova affetto per una ragazza, ma senza mai rivelarglielo, intrattiene una relazione (nata senza futuro) con una donna e alla fine si intuisce che la “prescelta” sarà un’altra giovane donna; l’altro protagonista si sposa; ma il tutto è appena accennato, freddo, come in una cronaca. Si dà sicuramente maggiore spazio all’amicizia fraterna e ai legami famigliari…oltre che alla sfiga! O meglio, alla cattiveria altrui. Praticamente in 400 e passa pagine non si fa altro che narrare di come sordidi personaggi intralcino la felicità dei due giovani e delle persone a loro care. E, francamente, due palle! Insomma, non si può costruire un romanzo su questo. L’80% dei personaggi sembra appositamente inventato per mettere i bastoni tra le ruote a questi due poveracci e a Daniel in particolare, il più sfigato dei due. Insomma, alla lunga la dinamica stanca… e infatti ci ho messo 3 settimane a finire questo libro! Non l’ho abbandonato solo perché è scritto bene e, normalmente, abbandono solo le ciofèche…
Se lo consiglio? Ni. Francamente, ni.
L’ho intravisto in una libreria remainder e l’ho preso al volo, visto che era da anni fuori commercio.
Sin dai primi capitoli mi rendo conto dell’enorme equivoco: non solo non si tratta di un romanzo rosa (e questo, non mi dispiaceva nemmeno), ma è quanto di più lontano dal romanzo rosa si possa immaginare. E non solo perché è scritto da un uomo e ha come protagonisti due giovani uomini (i “currency lads” del titolo originale, figli liberi di deportati inglesi). Per le storie d’amore non c’è proprio spazio. Sì, uno dei due protagonisti prova affetto per una ragazza, ma senza mai rivelarglielo, intrattiene una relazione (nata senza futuro) con una donna e alla fine si intuisce che la “prescelta” sarà un’altra giovane donna; l’altro protagonista si sposa; ma il tutto è appena accennato, freddo, come in una cronaca. Si dà sicuramente maggiore spazio all’amicizia fraterna e ai legami famigliari…oltre che alla sfiga! O meglio, alla cattiveria altrui. Praticamente in 400 e passa pagine non si fa altro che narrare di come sordidi personaggi intralcino la felicità dei due giovani e delle persone a loro care. E, francamente, due palle! Insomma, non si può costruire un romanzo su questo. L’80% dei personaggi sembra appositamente inventato per mettere i bastoni tra le ruote a questi due poveracci e a Daniel in particolare, il più sfigato dei due. Insomma, alla lunga la dinamica stanca… e infatti ci ho messo 3 settimane a finire questo libro! Non l’ho abbandonato solo perché è scritto bene e, normalmente, abbandono solo le ciofèche…
Se lo consiglio? Ni. Francamente, ni.
June 22, 2012
The currency lads and lasses are the next generation after convicts. Surprisingly they found themselves in much better positions because of their upbringing. eg owners of boats at 20 years old.
I enjoyed this look into Australian history that I did not know existed. The rich class of business owners wanted cheap labor (slaves/convicts) to work their businesses. A ship was despatched from England, but the people refused to let it land in a free Sydney town.
This was an aspect of our history I did not know.
An enjoyable book with characters you grew to love.
I enjoyed this look into Australian history that I did not know existed. The rich class of business owners wanted cheap labor (slaves/convicts) to work their businesses. A ship was despatched from England, but the people refused to let it land in a free Sydney town.
This was an aspect of our history I did not know.
An enjoyable book with characters you grew to love.
July 1, 2018
If you love reading fiction set in early Sydney you will love this.
July 28, 2022
Excellent book, the ups and downs of a family and the history of life in Australia. Great book, great story line, I felt it finished to early!
November 21, 2022
Peter Yeldham is a masterful story teller, embedding a fictional tale of two brothers within a historical context, bringing to life Sydney in the first half of the 19th Century. A terrific read.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews