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The Naked Country
Deep in cattle country in Australia's remote north, Lance Dillon's stud bull is killed by a party of Aborigines led by Mundaroo, and Dillon is himself speared. A dramatic manhunt across rugged terrain ensues. This early novel demonstrates Morris West's skill as a writer, keeping readers glued to their seats.
Lance Dillon is owner of a new cattle station on the southern fringe of Australia's Arnhem Land. When an Aboriginal hunting party targets Dillon's prize bull for a ritual killing, and then spears Dillon in the shoulder, it's clear they want him off their traditional land.
Under the merciless rays of the burning sun, the wounded Dillon flees into the bush, with expert tracker Mundaru in hot pursuit.
Dillon's city-born wife Mary and handsome local policeman Neil Adams set out to search for her husband. The gruelling journey throws them together, and it is not long before each is secretly hoping that Dillon is never found alive.
The Naked Country is a terrifying manhunt set in one of the harshest and most remote regions of the world.
'West is a great storyteller, a writer who can spin a fine yarn, and keep us guessing until the tale is told.' The Age
Lance Dillon is owner of a new cattle station on the southern fringe of Australia's Arnhem Land. When an Aboriginal hunting party targets Dillon's prize bull for a ritual killing, and then spears Dillon in the shoulder, it's clear they want him off their traditional land.
Under the merciless rays of the burning sun, the wounded Dillon flees into the bush, with expert tracker Mundaru in hot pursuit.
Dillon's city-born wife Mary and handsome local policeman Neil Adams set out to search for her husband. The gruelling journey throws them together, and it is not long before each is secretly hoping that Dillon is never found alive.
The Naked Country is a terrifying manhunt set in one of the harshest and most remote regions of the world.
'West is a great storyteller, a writer who can spin a fine yarn, and keep us guessing until the tale is told.' The Age
- GenresCrime
208 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1960
4 people are currently reading
39 people want to read
About the author
Morris L. West
133 books174 followersMorris Langlo West was born in St Kilda, Melbourne in 1916. At the age of fourteen, he entered the Christian Brothers seminary ‘as a kind of refuge’ from a difficult childhood. He attended the University of Melbourne and worked as a teacher. In 1941 he left the Christian Brothers without taking final vows. In World War II he worked as a code-breaker, and for a time he was private secretary to former prime minister Billy Hughes.
After the war, West became a successful writer and producer of radio serials. In 1955 he left Australia to build an international career as a writer. With his family, he lived in Austria, Italy, England and the USA, including a stint as the Vatican correspondent for the British newspaper, the Daily Mail. He returned to Australia in 1982.
Morris West wrote 30 books and many plays, and several of his novels were adapted for film. His books were published in 28 languages and sold more than 60 million copies worldwide. Each new book he wrote after he became an established writer sold more than one million copies.
West received many awards and accolades over his long writing career, including the James Tait Black Memorial Prize and the W.H. Heinemann Award of the Royal Society of Literature for The Devil's Advocate. In 1978 he was elected a fellow of the World Academy of Art and Science. He was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) in 1985, and was made an Officer of the Order (AO) in 1997.
Morris West died at his desk in 1999.
After the war, West became a successful writer and producer of radio serials. In 1955 he left Australia to build an international career as a writer. With his family, he lived in Austria, Italy, England and the USA, including a stint as the Vatican correspondent for the British newspaper, the Daily Mail. He returned to Australia in 1982.
Morris West wrote 30 books and many plays, and several of his novels were adapted for film. His books were published in 28 languages and sold more than 60 million copies worldwide. Each new book he wrote after he became an established writer sold more than one million copies.
West received many awards and accolades over his long writing career, including the James Tait Black Memorial Prize and the W.H. Heinemann Award of the Royal Society of Literature for The Devil's Advocate. In 1978 he was elected a fellow of the World Academy of Art and Science. He was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) in 1985, and was made an Officer of the Order (AO) in 1997.
Morris West died at his desk in 1999.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
April 30, 2020
Evil Aborigine disturbs the frontier peace by killing white man's bull, trying to kill white man, and raping and bashing Aboriginal girl. Sensitive white policeman does not react by massacring every Aborigine in sight, and instead re-brokers peace through skillful diplomacy. To be shelved under White Assimilation Fantasy.
April 15, 2024
Discovered another Morris West to add to my collection, in Tesco of all places.
One of my favorite authors, an adventure set in Northern Territory of Australia. Instead of Jesuit rituals set in Rome, he gives us aboriginal tracking and tribal magic, all with a happy ending. A great read.
One of my favorite authors, an adventure set in Northern Territory of Australia. Instead of Jesuit rituals set in Rome, he gives us aboriginal tracking and tribal magic, all with a happy ending. A great read.
October 15, 2019
Meh,
Começo envolvente bem descrito, mas bicho essa mulher não tem nada pra fazer além de esperar o marido? É só isso que ela faz da vida. Começo daora vai ficando chato, a mulher é extremamente genérica e o cara é um mongolão sem personalidade.
Começo envolvente bem descrito, mas bicho essa mulher não tem nada pra fazer além de esperar o marido? É só isso que ela faz da vida. Começo daora vai ficando chato, a mulher é extremamente genérica e o cara é um mongolão sem personalidade.
April 26, 2019
Story of survival in Australian outback. White rancher is attacked and injured by Aborigines and must battle elements in order to survive. Very graphic descriptions about his suffering. Last 20 pages are disappointing - melodrama about reconciling with his wife. Good start, poor ending.
January 31, 2025
The tension in the story captivated me. The language and voice of Indigenous Australians worried me as a non-Indigenous person.
The book would not be written today as it was in 1960. There is no mention of collaboration or co-authorship with Indigenous Australians or cultural sensitivity readers. The details of the Indigenous life presented in the story could be totally fictitious or an accurate portrayal of life in the era of the novel. My guess 65 years after the story was published is the truth is somewhere in-between.
I bought this book at the Lifeline annual Bookfest as a look back in time. I was curious about a well-known author when I was in high school and how the details of the story were dealt with.
My curiosity was answered. It is a fast-paced murder mystery set in outback Australia that was written in a different era, and the story reflects that.
The book would not be written today as it was in 1960. There is no mention of collaboration or co-authorship with Indigenous Australians or cultural sensitivity readers. The details of the Indigenous life presented in the story could be totally fictitious or an accurate portrayal of life in the era of the novel. My guess 65 years after the story was published is the truth is somewhere in-between.
I bought this book at the Lifeline annual Bookfest as a look back in time. I was curious about a well-known author when I was in high school and how the details of the story were dealt with.
My curiosity was answered. It is a fast-paced murder mystery set in outback Australia that was written in a different era, and the story reflects that.
January 21, 2013
I registered a book at BookCrossing.com!
http://www.BookCrossing.com/journal/11611758
http://www.BookCrossing.com/journal/11611758
January 9, 2017
"Yes... A neat little story. Jeeves, add it to the school curriculum. "
So this is Morris West.
1960, possibly one of the oldest stories I've enjoyed.
So this is Morris West.
1960, possibly one of the oldest stories I've enjoyed.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews