On Emerald Downs

Australia #3

by Patricia Shaw

Ten years after he first took shelter with the Queensland Aborigines, Jack Drew, an escaped convict, has decided the time has come to return to civilization. But while he is unwittingly accepted as a free man, he finds himself at odds with those around him, condemning their treatment of convicts and Aborigines, and intimidated by the basics of civilized society. He finds employment on a back-country farm called Emerald Downs, and when the owner, Major Ferrington, is ordered to take squads of troops into the wilds beyond Brisbane and roust the Aborigines who have been terrorizing the area, Jack is horrified to find he must go with him as a scout. The farm is left in the hands of Adrian Pinnock—the brother of Major Ferrington's fiancee, Jessie—but when Jessie herself insists on accompanying him, dealings on the once well-ordered estate take a very different course. It soon becomes clear that the shattering events of these frontier times will give new meaning to all their lives.

352 pages, Hardcover

First published September 1, 2002

About the author

Patricia Shaw was an Australian novelist and non-fiction writer.

Reviews

[J A Holder-Vale · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another beautifully woven story of the Outback by Patricia Shaw. The characters, love'm or hate'm, are described in clear detail. I have been delighted by everything I have read so far from this talented author. Thank you.

[Ashara Branson · Rating 5 out of 5]

loved this book!

Couldn’t put it down.. full of great characters,
fast moving story…you won’t be
disappointed …
Indigenous culture and white settlers
Stories.

[Angela · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting story with a lot of plot lines and giving a fair amount of detail about Australia's early settlement, the hardships and the issues facing the English settlers and the native people. Nothing too deep and served well as a piece of vacation reading but enjoyable non-theless.

[Dianna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Easy, interesting vacation type read.

[Caroline · Rating 5 out of 5]

Over een ontsnapte gevangene die 10 jaar bij de aboriginals heeft geleefd en hen help zich beter tegen de blanken te verdedigen.
Vervolg van The Valley of lagoons.