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The Rourke Saga #3
Deviations From Paradise
Pioneer settlers of wilderness areas generally have a common goal - to find and claim their own piece of paradise.
Tom Rourke was no different in this regard. In 1827 his paradise was on a secluded waterway only thirty miles from the growing port of Sydney Town in the British penal colony of New South Wales. The pristine bushland on which his one hundred acres had been allotted had been protected from the land-hungry eyes of the colonists by the inaccessible terrain which surrounded it.
Tom had many plans of how he would turn his land into his own paradise. But one man's paradise can be another's hell. The local natives, assigned convicts and Mother Nature didn't always comply with Tom's plans.
Our plans for life's journey are seldom without compromise. Tom finds that some of his plans are not achievable. He needs to accept deviations. Deviations on his road to paradise.
****
Set in the period 1827 to 1841, the story follows the triumphs and tragedies of one of Australia's pioneering families as they pursue their dreams in a secluded corner of the British penal colony in New South Wales.
The story is a fictional account which should appeal to the reader who enjoys a family saga of action, adventure and a hint of romance. However, many of the incidents portrayed are based on actual events that occurred during those times.
Tom Rourke was no different in this regard. In 1827 his paradise was on a secluded waterway only thirty miles from the growing port of Sydney Town in the British penal colony of New South Wales. The pristine bushland on which his one hundred acres had been allotted had been protected from the land-hungry eyes of the colonists by the inaccessible terrain which surrounded it.
Tom had many plans of how he would turn his land into his own paradise. But one man's paradise can be another's hell. The local natives, assigned convicts and Mother Nature didn't always comply with Tom's plans.
Our plans for life's journey are seldom without compromise. Tom finds that some of his plans are not achievable. He needs to accept deviations. Deviations on his road to paradise.
****
Set in the period 1827 to 1841, the story follows the triumphs and tragedies of one of Australia's pioneering families as they pursue their dreams in a secluded corner of the British penal colony in New South Wales.
The story is a fictional account which should appeal to the reader who enjoys a family saga of action, adventure and a hint of romance. However, many of the incidents portrayed are based on actual events that occurred during those times.
306 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 17, 2020
58 people are currently reading
7 people want to read
About the author
Roy T. Humphreys
3 books1 followerPatrick’s Journey is an historical fiction novel that is based on the real life history of my great grandfather (4 times removed). I first heard about his story at a family reunion many years ago and was captivated by the dramatic changes he experienced during his life’s journey (hence the title).
This was a story just waiting to be told, one of those where fact can seem stranger than fiction. However, I was constantly wondering about what his emotional journey must have been like. Nobody could have experienced the quantum shifts in circumstances that he did without having an equivalent "journey" of emotions. There had already been a number of historical articles published about him and so I decided I would deviate from the traditional approach and publish something that encompassed his emotional journey as well. Historical fiction was the obvious answer and so on retirement I embarked on a project that was to last the best part of eighteen months.
I soon found there was ample incidental history published about the times in which he lived. For example, there are numerous documents covering the United Irishmen and their struggle for independence. While Patrick's conviction papers refer to a civil matter (theft) there was an endorsement on one court document describing him as an "Irish Rebel". It wasn't hard to conjure circumstances that interwove a United Irishmen connection to his arrest and trial and tie that back to our family folklore which insists his punishment was a British Military "get square" for a dispute involving the family cow.
Similarly, there is considerable information published about the convict ship Boddington on which he was transported to Australia. In some ways Patrick was a lucky man. The Boddington was one of the first ships to adopt new hygiene and humanitarian measures designed to curb the appalling death rate amongst convicts being transported to the penal colony of New South Wales.
My hope is to entertain readers while at the same time keep the memory of my ancestor alive.
Librarian Note: There is more than one author by this name in the Goodreads data base.
This was a story just waiting to be told, one of those where fact can seem stranger than fiction. However, I was constantly wondering about what his emotional journey must have been like. Nobody could have experienced the quantum shifts in circumstances that he did without having an equivalent "journey" of emotions. There had already been a number of historical articles published about him and so I decided I would deviate from the traditional approach and publish something that encompassed his emotional journey as well. Historical fiction was the obvious answer and so on retirement I embarked on a project that was to last the best part of eighteen months.
I soon found there was ample incidental history published about the times in which he lived. For example, there are numerous documents covering the United Irishmen and their struggle for independence. While Patrick's conviction papers refer to a civil matter (theft) there was an endorsement on one court document describing him as an "Irish Rebel". It wasn't hard to conjure circumstances that interwove a United Irishmen connection to his arrest and trial and tie that back to our family folklore which insists his punishment was a British Military "get square" for a dispute involving the family cow.
Similarly, there is considerable information published about the convict ship Boddington on which he was transported to Australia. In some ways Patrick was a lucky man. The Boddington was one of the first ships to adopt new hygiene and humanitarian measures designed to curb the appalling death rate amongst convicts being transported to the penal colony of New South Wales.
My hope is to entertain readers while at the same time keep the memory of my ancestor alive.
Librarian Note: There is more than one author by this name in the Goodreads data base.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
July 9, 2020
Thomas Rourke’s 100 acres of land was on the Brisbane Water (now known as the Hawkesbury River) at Cockle Creek. The land had been owned by his father and Patrick had sold it to Tom for a meagre sum; Tom’s plans for the future were enthusiastic and with his young wife Mary by his side, he knew they’d achieve great things in their little slice of paradise.
Tom had four convicts assigned to him to cultivate their land; he had a nervous relationship with the local natives and warned the four men to steer clear of them, as well as the dingoes, and not cause trouble. Isaac, Dick, Ben and Darby had proven themselves to be good, hard working men and Tom would be sorry to lose them if they were issued with pardons. Tom owned a yacht - which he’d had built, then returned his father’s smaller boat - which he used to cart produce and timber to Sydney for sale.
But the natives were restless, and Tom feared trouble wouldn’t be far away. And Isaac was jittery; something was up with him, but Tom couldn’t discover what. Things would change, tragedy would strike – paradise would be shaken for awhile…
Deviations from Paradise is the 3rd in The Rourke Saga by Aussie author Roy T. Humphreys and once again, I thoroughly enjoyed it. Based on ancestral fact, life was hard from 1827 - 1841 and making a living, bringing up a family was something to be proud of if you succeeded. Tom and his parents and siblings were from Sydney and although the distance (in today’s terms) was not large at all, it took several hours by boat until the Great Road was built. Recommended.
With thanks to the author for my digital ARC to read in exchange for my honest review.
Tom had four convicts assigned to him to cultivate their land; he had a nervous relationship with the local natives and warned the four men to steer clear of them, as well as the dingoes, and not cause trouble. Isaac, Dick, Ben and Darby had proven themselves to be good, hard working men and Tom would be sorry to lose them if they were issued with pardons. Tom owned a yacht - which he’d had built, then returned his father’s smaller boat - which he used to cart produce and timber to Sydney for sale.
But the natives were restless, and Tom feared trouble wouldn’t be far away. And Isaac was jittery; something was up with him, but Tom couldn’t discover what. Things would change, tragedy would strike – paradise would be shaken for awhile…
Deviations from Paradise is the 3rd in The Rourke Saga by Aussie author Roy T. Humphreys and once again, I thoroughly enjoyed it. Based on ancestral fact, life was hard from 1827 - 1841 and making a living, bringing up a family was something to be proud of if you succeeded. Tom and his parents and siblings were from Sydney and although the distance (in today’s terms) was not large at all, it took several hours by boat until the Great Road was built. Recommended.
With thanks to the author for my digital ARC to read in exchange for my honest review.
May 21, 2020
Deviations From Paradise will draw you in. It is with great regret that I can only give this a 5 out of 5. I'm absolutely blown away by the imagery and emotion conveyed within these pages. You'll find yourself wrapped up in this family saga from yesteryear. A must-read for anyone looking for a little adventure, some perseverance, and a lot of love.
September 1, 2020
I’ve not left a review before but felt this was such a beguiling story I had to! I was completely engrossed throughout the three books. I couldn’t wait to learn the outcomes of this Irish based family. I loved the fact that the story entailed so many facts from family history. I will be seeking Mr Humphrey’s other works. Marvellous
May 4, 2021
Another great book by the same Author. Roy T. Humphreys. It is amazing how he was able to put all this history together in such a marvelous book. I was sorry when the book finished because there must be so much more to this great saga. I was luck enough to read all the three books in this series and I enjoyed learning so much more about those great pioneers that shaped this land.
July 5, 2023
A descent ending
It concluded the series in a decent way. I wish it was longer. Some details of the story were great and others left unfinished.
It concluded the series in a decent way. I wish it was longer. Some details of the story were great and others left unfinished.
May 15, 2022
Great read There are plenty of Aussie convict made good tales around. But this trilogy is one of the best I've read. To read the author based it loosely on his family's origins makes me shake my head and think, wow those times were tough and what a spoilt generation we are now.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews