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The Wreck
All Sarah ever wanted was a better life ... From the bestselling author of Fled comes a moving tale of revolution, treachery and courage.
In 1820 Sarah McCaffrey, fleeing arrest for her part in a failed rebellion, thinks she has escaped when she finds herself aboard the Serpent, bound from London to the colony of New South Wales. But when the mercurial captain's actions drive the ship into a cliff, Sarah is the only survivor. Adopting a false identity, she becomes the right-hand woman of Molly Thistle, who has grown her late husband's business interests into a sprawling real estate and trade empire. As time passes, Sarah begins to believe she might have found a home - until her past follows her across the seas...
In 1820 Sarah McCaffrey, fleeing arrest for her part in a failed rebellion, thinks she has escaped when she finds herself aboard the Serpent, bound from London to the colony of New South Wales. But when the mercurial captain's actions drive the ship into a cliff, Sarah is the only survivor. Adopting a false identity, she becomes the right-hand woman of Molly Thistle, who has grown her late husband's business interests into a sprawling real estate and trade empire. As time passes, Sarah begins to believe she might have found a home - until her past follows her across the seas...
384 pages, Paperback
First published September 1, 2020
13 people are currently reading
327 people want to read
About the author
Meg Keneally
12 books119 followersMeg Keneally started her working life as a junior public affairs officer at the Australian Consulate-General in New York, before moving to Dublin to work as a sub-editor and freelance features writer. On returning to Australia, she joined the Daily Telegraph as a general news reporter, covering everything from courts to crime to animals' birthday parties at the zoo. She then joined Radio 2UE as a talkback radio producer.
In 1997 Meg co-founded a financial service public relations company, which she sold after having her first child. For more than ten years, Margaret has worked in corporate affairs for listed financial services companies, and doubles as a part-time SCUBA diving instructor. She lives in Sydney with her husband Craig and children Rory and Alex.
In 1997 Meg co-founded a financial service public relations company, which she sold after having her first child. For more than ten years, Margaret has worked in corporate affairs for listed financial services companies, and doubles as a part-time SCUBA diving instructor. She lives in Sydney with her husband Craig and children Rory and Alex.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 69 reviews
December 6, 2020
Another grand offering from Ms Keneally, and this time the background is political awakening of workers of 1819 which makes the main protagonist, Sarah McCaffrey flee England and seek refuge in New South Wales. Surviving a disaster, Sarah tries to find her own place in Australia, and she remains politically-engaged, strong-minded and determined to follow the path her parents and brother did in England.
Again Ms Keneally portrays skillfully the place, the times and the people who, driven away from England for different reasons, manage, often by sheer luck or determination, prosper under new circumstances. Some characters are not that lucky, though. If you look for a protagonist who remains faithful to their beliefs, you will like Sarah. And the novel.
Again Ms Keneally portrays skillfully the place, the times and the people who, driven away from England for different reasons, manage, often by sheer luck or determination, prosper under new circumstances. Some characters are not that lucky, though. If you look for a protagonist who remains faithful to their beliefs, you will like Sarah. And the novel.
December 28, 2024
”It is why I will go with the men when they rise. Women hunger, and women die, so women must also fight.”
Manchester, August 1819
The thrum of machines fills the air. Entire generations, from young children to adults, work in the cotton mills, barely making enough to make ends meet. Hunger and poverty are rife. Families live in squalor in one room huts.
The McCaffreys were weavers of fine articles of cloth, proud of their workmanship. But the industrial revolution and introduction of behemoth machines has meant they have lost their livelihood. And had to join the beast of mill life. Where neither adult nor child is free from a brutal beating at the hands of their “master”.
The disparity between the classes is seen from the first pages. The appalling work and living conditions, where continual hunger is the norm. Where children are stunted and weak, instead of being able to blossom and grow. Workers - both men and women - gather together to attend a speech at a public rally, in nearby fields. A renowned orator is there to discuss change, in an attempt to bring the poor working conditions to the attention of the government. To open their eyes to the realities of life for the mill workers. The penury. But the peaceful protest soon turns ugly….Sarah McCaffrey and her brother Sam lose both parents in the confusion of the bloody melee that follows.
A mysterious stranger who was watching the protest from afar, helps them see their parents decently buried. As with all gift horses, this act comes with a proposal that they leave their home to move to the capital. To further the cause of the rebellion, against the masters in Westminster. With nothing to hold them back any longer in Manchester, Sarah and Sam make the move to London. But at what cost?
Sydney, New South Wales, August 1820
Landing on the shores of a new colony on the other side of the world, part two begins with Sarah as the sole survivor of a shipwreck. The Serpent has crashed on the rocks of the coast of New South Wales.
And so begins a new life for her. Renaming herself as Sarah Marin, she keeps her true identity quiet, until she can work out who can be trusted. Being the only person left from the fatal journey, there is a lot of curiosity and interest as to who she might be.
In Sarah McCaffrey/Marin, we have a survivor, a young lass, tested by the fates, who emerges as a strong woman. She is brave, without realising it. Without asking to be. Sarah is simply true to herself and her beliefs. This is a forte of Meg Keneally’s, to bring to the reader strong female protagonists, when the society around them is definitely patriarchal, and dismissive of women having intelligent thoughts or any sort of rights. This new colony is not only harsh, it truly is a man’s world. But with a possibility for people to re-invent themselves, and shake off their pasts which have brought them here.
”You have survived worse, and you will survive this. You must.”
I enjoyed reading the descriptions of the sights and sounds of a new city being built from scratch. From the convicts in chain gangs, to the merchants, labourers, serving girls, and all those in between. All living in a bright, harsh environment. Unlike any they could have imagined.
The title The Wreck is a great metaphor; not only for the ship which came to an unfortunate end as it landed on the sharp rocks of the New South Wales shoreline, but also for the lives that were splintered and had to begin again in a hot, unknown land. Whether as free settlers or in chains. That being a wreck either in body or spirit, can still allow for renewal, and hope.
”I have never taken what isn’t mine. I simply tried to take what is.”
This is Meg Kenneally’s second solo book. Collin and I both read her first novel Fled and loved it. For me, this one didn’t have quite the same intensity. While it continues in the same theme of solid writing that brings to life the sights and scenes of colonial life of the early settlers and convicts, I was sometimes “lost”. I wondered if I’d somehow skipped reading a paragraph or two, or maybe even a page. I’d have to pause and backtrack to see what I’d missed.
Though this could simply be that I’ve just had too much on my mind lately. I cannot be overly critical if there were a few hazy moments, as they well could have been all mine, and not the books. We had a lot of stops and starts with reading this, purely due to me. So I guess some of this vibe has carried over to finally reading the book in its entirety.
Having said this, it’s a superb effort. It interested me to read from the Author’s Notes that while the events and characters in this story were fictitious, they were loosely based around events that occurred and people that existed. It’s a nice touch. 3.5 ⭐ full stars.
*** Buddy read with the wonderful, talented Mr.Neale-ski. Book No.14 already. We had lots of interesting discussions, and on a separate topic I brought up the idea of time travel (“what if???”). Which makes me think, were it at all possible, I’d love to visit colonial Sydney. It would be amazing to see the birth of a new nation. And much of the area known as The Rocks is intact, and still retains such an amazing vibe. It's one of my favourite parts of Sydney. Please also read Neale’s review, as he picks up on quite a few ideas that I hadn’t thought of https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
https://www.nealesbookblog.com/post/t...***
Manchester, August 1819
The thrum of machines fills the air. Entire generations, from young children to adults, work in the cotton mills, barely making enough to make ends meet. Hunger and poverty are rife. Families live in squalor in one room huts.
The McCaffreys were weavers of fine articles of cloth, proud of their workmanship. But the industrial revolution and introduction of behemoth machines has meant they have lost their livelihood. And had to join the beast of mill life. Where neither adult nor child is free from a brutal beating at the hands of their “master”.
The disparity between the classes is seen from the first pages. The appalling work and living conditions, where continual hunger is the norm. Where children are stunted and weak, instead of being able to blossom and grow. Workers - both men and women - gather together to attend a speech at a public rally, in nearby fields. A renowned orator is there to discuss change, in an attempt to bring the poor working conditions to the attention of the government. To open their eyes to the realities of life for the mill workers. The penury. But the peaceful protest soon turns ugly….Sarah McCaffrey and her brother Sam lose both parents in the confusion of the bloody melee that follows.
A mysterious stranger who was watching the protest from afar, helps them see their parents decently buried. As with all gift horses, this act comes with a proposal that they leave their home to move to the capital. To further the cause of the rebellion, against the masters in Westminster. With nothing to hold them back any longer in Manchester, Sarah and Sam make the move to London. But at what cost?
Sydney, New South Wales, August 1820
Landing on the shores of a new colony on the other side of the world, part two begins with Sarah as the sole survivor of a shipwreck. The Serpent has crashed on the rocks of the coast of New South Wales.
And so begins a new life for her. Renaming herself as Sarah Marin, she keeps her true identity quiet, until she can work out who can be trusted. Being the only person left from the fatal journey, there is a lot of curiosity and interest as to who she might be.
In Sarah McCaffrey/Marin, we have a survivor, a young lass, tested by the fates, who emerges as a strong woman. She is brave, without realising it. Without asking to be. Sarah is simply true to herself and her beliefs. This is a forte of Meg Keneally’s, to bring to the reader strong female protagonists, when the society around them is definitely patriarchal, and dismissive of women having intelligent thoughts or any sort of rights. This new colony is not only harsh, it truly is a man’s world. But with a possibility for people to re-invent themselves, and shake off their pasts which have brought them here.
”You have survived worse, and you will survive this. You must.”
I enjoyed reading the descriptions of the sights and sounds of a new city being built from scratch. From the convicts in chain gangs, to the merchants, labourers, serving girls, and all those in between. All living in a bright, harsh environment. Unlike any they could have imagined.
The title The Wreck is a great metaphor; not only for the ship which came to an unfortunate end as it landed on the sharp rocks of the New South Wales shoreline, but also for the lives that were splintered and had to begin again in a hot, unknown land. Whether as free settlers or in chains. That being a wreck either in body or spirit, can still allow for renewal, and hope.
”I have never taken what isn’t mine. I simply tried to take what is.”
This is Meg Kenneally’s second solo book. Collin and I both read her first novel Fled and loved it. For me, this one didn’t have quite the same intensity. While it continues in the same theme of solid writing that brings to life the sights and scenes of colonial life of the early settlers and convicts, I was sometimes “lost”. I wondered if I’d somehow skipped reading a paragraph or two, or maybe even a page. I’d have to pause and backtrack to see what I’d missed.
Though this could simply be that I’ve just had too much on my mind lately. I cannot be overly critical if there were a few hazy moments, as they well could have been all mine, and not the books. We had a lot of stops and starts with reading this, purely due to me. So I guess some of this vibe has carried over to finally reading the book in its entirety.
Having said this, it’s a superb effort. It interested me to read from the Author’s Notes that while the events and characters in this story were fictitious, they were loosely based around events that occurred and people that existed. It’s a nice touch. 3.5 ⭐ full stars.
*** Buddy read with the wonderful, talented Mr.Neale-ski. Book No.14 already. We had lots of interesting discussions, and on a separate topic I brought up the idea of time travel (“what if???”). Which makes me think, were it at all possible, I’d love to visit colonial Sydney. It would be amazing to see the birth of a new nation. And much of the area known as The Rocks is intact, and still retains such an amazing vibe. It's one of my favourite parts of Sydney. Please also read Neale’s review, as he picks up on quite a few ideas that I hadn’t thought of https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
https://www.nealesbookblog.com/post/t...***
December 18, 2020
This story is “loosely inspired by historical figures,” including Mary Reibey who was transported to Australia as a convict, later becoming legendary as a successful businesswoman. “At one point she held 405 hectares of land and was one of the richest people in the colony.”
Also “some parts of the plot share contours with historical events.” This story brings a time period when a few were born into privileged life; the rest lived and worked in deplorable conditions. When the poor feeling oppressed gathered peacefully at St Peter’s Field demanding the reform of parliamentary representation, it ended in the Peterloo Massacre. With no response from the government, some extremist attempted to murder all the British cabinet ministers and the Prime Minister. The Cato Street Conspiracy ended in some being hanged and some sent to the penal colony in Australia. While on the way to Australia, the Dunbar ship was pushed into the cliffs near the entrance to Sydney Harbor, resulting in the Wreck of the Dunbar.
Manchester, England, 1819. Sarah with her mother attend an assembly. They fight for the right treatment of the workers at cotton mills. The public meeting at St Peter’s Field turns deadly.
Sarah and her brother follow a radical leader to London who exposes them to the works of Thomas Spence and Thomas Paine’s “Rights of Man.” A radical idea goes the wrong way and Sarah finds herself bound for Australia.
“There are opportunities in the colony, yes, but also peril and deprivation.” In Sydney, Sarah finds herself in not a much better situation than in England. She works at a boarding house in exchange for food and a roof over her head. No money whatsoever. The control of those with the money continues. But then she learns that the ones with the money in the new world weren’t necessarily born into that money like in the old world. And her eyes open for new opportunities.
The story is captivating from the start to the end and presented with beautiful prose.
I enjoyed the heroine who goes through different phases in her life. She is already a rebel at young age, who sees unfair treatment of workers at cotton mills. She becomes a radical as the poor’s pleas fall on deaf ears. The poor didn’t seek charity, but honest work. When there is no response from the government, then people revolt. In the new world, she sees the same oppression and later a chance for freedom she’s been fighting for. Her eyes open to different possibilities, instead of wasting her time on hushed conversations.
The time period is interestingly explored through historical events. The situation of the poor and their justification for the fight is well-depicted. The new world is interesting in its trials and possibilities. And I just wished a tiny bit more of that was involved in this story. The life in the new colony is fascinating and would love a bit more of that.
P.S. Also by this author highly recommend Fled. And if you read and enjoyed The Exile by Christina Baker Kline, you might enjoy this book as well.
Also “some parts of the plot share contours with historical events.” This story brings a time period when a few were born into privileged life; the rest lived and worked in deplorable conditions. When the poor feeling oppressed gathered peacefully at St Peter’s Field demanding the reform of parliamentary representation, it ended in the Peterloo Massacre. With no response from the government, some extremist attempted to murder all the British cabinet ministers and the Prime Minister. The Cato Street Conspiracy ended in some being hanged and some sent to the penal colony in Australia. While on the way to Australia, the Dunbar ship was pushed into the cliffs near the entrance to Sydney Harbor, resulting in the Wreck of the Dunbar.
Manchester, England, 1819. Sarah with her mother attend an assembly. They fight for the right treatment of the workers at cotton mills. The public meeting at St Peter’s Field turns deadly.
Sarah and her brother follow a radical leader to London who exposes them to the works of Thomas Spence and Thomas Paine’s “Rights of Man.” A radical idea goes the wrong way and Sarah finds herself bound for Australia.
“There are opportunities in the colony, yes, but also peril and deprivation.” In Sydney, Sarah finds herself in not a much better situation than in England. She works at a boarding house in exchange for food and a roof over her head. No money whatsoever. The control of those with the money continues. But then she learns that the ones with the money in the new world weren’t necessarily born into that money like in the old world. And her eyes open for new opportunities.
The story is captivating from the start to the end and presented with beautiful prose.
I enjoyed the heroine who goes through different phases in her life. She is already a rebel at young age, who sees unfair treatment of workers at cotton mills. She becomes a radical as the poor’s pleas fall on deaf ears. The poor didn’t seek charity, but honest work. When there is no response from the government, then people revolt. In the new world, she sees the same oppression and later a chance for freedom she’s been fighting for. Her eyes open to different possibilities, instead of wasting her time on hushed conversations.
The time period is interestingly explored through historical events. The situation of the poor and their justification for the fight is well-depicted. The new world is interesting in its trials and possibilities. And I just wished a tiny bit more of that was involved in this story. The life in the new colony is fascinating and would love a bit more of that.
P.S. Also by this author highly recommend Fled. And if you read and enjoyed The Exile by Christina Baker Kline, you might enjoy this book as well.
February 4, 2021
Buddy Read 14 with the wonderful Nat K.
It is 1819, Manchester, and the steam-powered behemoth that is the industrial revolution has stolen many of the city’s inhabitant’s jobs. Jobs that used to require a skilled tradesman are now performed by unskilled factory workers with skills learned in days rather than years.
This revolution gives rise to another revolution, one more sinister and dire, well depending on whether you come from the class of rich aristocrats and politicians, or the poor, destitute, poverty ridden class who are dying in the streets from hunger.
Combine this with the people containing virtually no rights and you have the demonstration that took place in St Peter’s Field. 60000 people had gathered to listen to a speech to be given by Harold Hartford. It was a peaceful gathering with Harold telling everyone not to bring weapons. The working class were there to demand their right to vote, to have a say, a voice. A peaceful way to improve their lives and situation.
On their way to Manchester Square, Sarah and her mother pass a sign which clearly states that the public meeting addressed by Harold Hartford will be an illegal meeting, however, Emily, Sarah’s mother, assures Sarah they will be fine, and they march on.
Sarah is a member of the Female Reform Society. Unable to afford a white dress like the women she is marching arm in arm with, Sarah wears brown. And yet she is no lesser woman than any marching that day. In fact, Sarah has been gifted the honour of being the standard bearer for this march.
Sarah realises that trouble is brewing when the Yeomen arrive on horses, quickly followed by the Hussars. Then her fears are confirmed when she notices constables approaching as well.
The despicable violence and force used by the King’s men and the ensuing loss of life and injury became know as the Peterloo Massacre. And Sarah and her brother Sam witness the murder of their mother and father.
It is these murders which galvanize the siblings, forge them into something they were not born to be. They become members of a rebellion plotting to assassinate a group of Cabinet members. However, the plot is poorly planned and doomed to fail before it has even started. Sarah is forced to flee to New South Wales hiding on a ship, her brother captured and hung.
However, before they reach their destination, we discover why the book is entitled “The Wreck”. The nefarious captain of the ship, Watkins, has been cannibalizing and selling parts of the ship for his own profit, and replacing them with old, inferior parts. One of these parts just so happens to be an integral part of the rudder. When this part fails it leads to the ship being dashed upon rocks and wrecked in Sydney Harbor.
Sarah awakens in a hospital in Sydney to find that she is the only survivor of the wreck. This poses a problem for Sarah as, seeing she is the only survivor of the wreck, she is deemed a bit of a celebrity, making it more difficult to hide from the authorities who will be on her trail.
In Sydney Sarah falls under the aegis of Mrs Thistle. Mrs Thistle arrived as a convict but inherited her husband’s estate when he died, this estate instantly making her one of the wealthiest women in the colony. When Sarah finds out that the authorities are indeed still looking for her, she realizes that she must tell Mrs Thistle about her past. This leads to a wonderful, if unexpected ending.
Meg Keneally once again paints a beautiful picture of Australia and Sydney in the early 19th century. The same flair and style that she used in her debut novel “Fled” is again present in this second novel. Sentences such as,
“Mrs Addison, her hair untied and the colour of a musket barrel, violently pulled open the door as though she was trying to punish it for the crime of being knocked on.”
and
“Mornings usually came far too quickly, before she was ready to meet them; this one was dragging, as though it had gathered up her wishes for more time and was granting them all at once.”
I love Keneally’s prose.
Again, as with her debut, Keneally has made the protagonist a strong, headstrong young woman, who is also fragile and scared. Sarah endures much throughout this novel. Then there is Mrs Thistle, the matriarch who gives the impression that she is a dominating woman, with no heart, tough enough to not only survive, but prosper, in a man’s world. However, this is just a façade she has built to hide her true nature. She is kind and caring, letting the poor and destitute reside in her properties paying no rent, taking women under her wing. I would have loved to have seen more of the captain of the “Serpent”, Captain Watkins. A character with so much potential. His early removal, a lost opportunity I feel.
I found this novel to be as good as “Fled” but more inconsistent. It starts strongly, loses its way a little in the middle, but then finishes with an ending that just ties the entire narrative together brilliantly. 4 Stars.
This was Buddy Read 14 with the wonderful Nat K and while we have been discussing it as we read, we both felt it was a little underwhelming when compared to “Fled”. However, Nat had not read the last couple of chapters while I am writing this so it will be interesting to see what she thinks.
Please, once again check out her review when she posts it.
It is 1819, Manchester, and the steam-powered behemoth that is the industrial revolution has stolen many of the city’s inhabitant’s jobs. Jobs that used to require a skilled tradesman are now performed by unskilled factory workers with skills learned in days rather than years.
This revolution gives rise to another revolution, one more sinister and dire, well depending on whether you come from the class of rich aristocrats and politicians, or the poor, destitute, poverty ridden class who are dying in the streets from hunger.
Combine this with the people containing virtually no rights and you have the demonstration that took place in St Peter’s Field. 60000 people had gathered to listen to a speech to be given by Harold Hartford. It was a peaceful gathering with Harold telling everyone not to bring weapons. The working class were there to demand their right to vote, to have a say, a voice. A peaceful way to improve their lives and situation.
On their way to Manchester Square, Sarah and her mother pass a sign which clearly states that the public meeting addressed by Harold Hartford will be an illegal meeting, however, Emily, Sarah’s mother, assures Sarah they will be fine, and they march on.
Sarah is a member of the Female Reform Society. Unable to afford a white dress like the women she is marching arm in arm with, Sarah wears brown. And yet she is no lesser woman than any marching that day. In fact, Sarah has been gifted the honour of being the standard bearer for this march.
Sarah realises that trouble is brewing when the Yeomen arrive on horses, quickly followed by the Hussars. Then her fears are confirmed when she notices constables approaching as well.
The despicable violence and force used by the King’s men and the ensuing loss of life and injury became know as the Peterloo Massacre. And Sarah and her brother Sam witness the murder of their mother and father.
It is these murders which galvanize the siblings, forge them into something they were not born to be. They become members of a rebellion plotting to assassinate a group of Cabinet members. However, the plot is poorly planned and doomed to fail before it has even started. Sarah is forced to flee to New South Wales hiding on a ship, her brother captured and hung.
However, before they reach their destination, we discover why the book is entitled “The Wreck”. The nefarious captain of the ship, Watkins, has been cannibalizing and selling parts of the ship for his own profit, and replacing them with old, inferior parts. One of these parts just so happens to be an integral part of the rudder. When this part fails it leads to the ship being dashed upon rocks and wrecked in Sydney Harbor.
Sarah awakens in a hospital in Sydney to find that she is the only survivor of the wreck. This poses a problem for Sarah as, seeing she is the only survivor of the wreck, she is deemed a bit of a celebrity, making it more difficult to hide from the authorities who will be on her trail.
In Sydney Sarah falls under the aegis of Mrs Thistle. Mrs Thistle arrived as a convict but inherited her husband’s estate when he died, this estate instantly making her one of the wealthiest women in the colony. When Sarah finds out that the authorities are indeed still looking for her, she realizes that she must tell Mrs Thistle about her past. This leads to a wonderful, if unexpected ending.
Meg Keneally once again paints a beautiful picture of Australia and Sydney in the early 19th century. The same flair and style that she used in her debut novel “Fled” is again present in this second novel. Sentences such as,
“Mrs Addison, her hair untied and the colour of a musket barrel, violently pulled open the door as though she was trying to punish it for the crime of being knocked on.”
and
“Mornings usually came far too quickly, before she was ready to meet them; this one was dragging, as though it had gathered up her wishes for more time and was granting them all at once.”
I love Keneally’s prose.
Again, as with her debut, Keneally has made the protagonist a strong, headstrong young woman, who is also fragile and scared. Sarah endures much throughout this novel. Then there is Mrs Thistle, the matriarch who gives the impression that she is a dominating woman, with no heart, tough enough to not only survive, but prosper, in a man’s world. However, this is just a façade she has built to hide her true nature. She is kind and caring, letting the poor and destitute reside in her properties paying no rent, taking women under her wing. I would have loved to have seen more of the captain of the “Serpent”, Captain Watkins. A character with so much potential. His early removal, a lost opportunity I feel.
I found this novel to be as good as “Fled” but more inconsistent. It starts strongly, loses its way a little in the middle, but then finishes with an ending that just ties the entire narrative together brilliantly. 4 Stars.
This was Buddy Read 14 with the wonderful Nat K and while we have been discussing it as we read, we both felt it was a little underwhelming when compared to “Fled”. However, Nat had not read the last couple of chapters while I am writing this so it will be interesting to see what she thinks.
Please, once again check out her review when she posts it.
October 6, 2020
4.5 stars
I did wonder how I would like this story as I do love Historical Fiction however I’m not a big fan of political based Hist Fic. I’m happy to say this story isn’t heavy on the political side. Sarah is very likeable. She has had a hard life and I wanted her to succeed. She is feisty, strong and intelligent. She speaks her mind.
The wreck is a story of people pushed to their limit by poverty and hunger. Set during a time when even a peaceful protest has deadly repercussions when the Crown’s yeomen intervene.
Sarah McCaffrey is a strong female lead. She is not afraid to risk her life to fight for what she believes in.
The story quickly moves from London to Sydney, New South Wales and we see that conditions are much the same as back in England. The rich are protected and prosper whilst the poor suffer and go hungry. We follow Sarah as she tries to fight for equality but not really knowing who to turn to or where to start. All avenues seem to lead to violence and bloodshed being the only answer.
Set in the early 1800’s, Keneally paints a vivid picture of a growing Sydney with boarding houses, taverns, the busy harbour and the shanties and muddy streets of The Rocks.
Through a mix of characters Meg Keneally shows the constant danger and degradation some women endured, selling their bodies on the street, to earn money to live a meagre life. In The Wreck strong women come in many forms and even when they are fighting the same fight as the men they are sneered at and looked down upon.
Sarah is helped and taken under the wing of some kind people. Firstly the captain of the ship she escaped London on and then arriving in Sydney alone and penniless she is helped by business woman and philanthropist Mrs Thistle.
Mrs Thistle is a remarkably drawn character and a key player in changing the lives of women through benevolence rather than violence.
These strong women paved the way for more strong women to keep fighting to be heard, It, as we know, is a long fight through generations and I enjoyed reading Meg Keneally’s take on where it all started.
*I received a copy from Beauty & LaceBook club.
I did wonder how I would like this story as I do love Historical Fiction however I’m not a big fan of political based Hist Fic. I’m happy to say this story isn’t heavy on the political side. Sarah is very likeable. She has had a hard life and I wanted her to succeed. She is feisty, strong and intelligent. She speaks her mind.
The wreck is a story of people pushed to their limit by poverty and hunger. Set during a time when even a peaceful protest has deadly repercussions when the Crown’s yeomen intervene.
“I will go with the men when they rise, though most do not want me to do so. Women hunger, and women die, so women must also fight.”
Sarah McCaffrey is a strong female lead. She is not afraid to risk her life to fight for what she believes in.
The story quickly moves from London to Sydney, New South Wales and we see that conditions are much the same as back in England. The rich are protected and prosper whilst the poor suffer and go hungry. We follow Sarah as she tries to fight for equality but not really knowing who to turn to or where to start. All avenues seem to lead to violence and bloodshed being the only answer.
Set in the early 1800’s, Keneally paints a vivid picture of a growing Sydney with boarding houses, taverns, the busy harbour and the shanties and muddy streets of The Rocks.
Through a mix of characters Meg Keneally shows the constant danger and degradation some women endured, selling their bodies on the street, to earn money to live a meagre life. In The Wreck strong women come in many forms and even when they are fighting the same fight as the men they are sneered at and looked down upon.
Sarah is helped and taken under the wing of some kind people. Firstly the captain of the ship she escaped London on and then arriving in Sydney alone and penniless she is helped by business woman and philanthropist Mrs Thistle.
Mrs Thistle is a remarkably drawn character and a key player in changing the lives of women through benevolence rather than violence.
These strong women paved the way for more strong women to keep fighting to be heard, It, as we know, is a long fight through generations and I enjoyed reading Meg Keneally’s take on where it all started.
*I received a copy from Beauty & LaceBook club.
Read
October 30, 2020*https://mrsbbookreviews.wordpress.com
‘No light was coming from the crippled ship and precious little from the sky, so Sarah did not see the next wave until it was almost upon her, a shelf of black, angry water flinging her and the barrel towards the rocks.’
A high seas adventure, a renegade with the will to survive, grit, determination and overcoming adversity leads the charge in The Wreck. The second independent novel from Australian author Meg Keneally successfully recreates times gone by, when the world was adjusting to the changes brought by industrialisation and every day proved to be a fight to survive. Rich in historical fact, detail and inspired by true events, The Wreck is remarkable slice of fiction from Meg Keneally.
Opening in 1820 in Britain, we meet Sarah McCaffrey, who is escaping arrest following her part in a dangerous demonstration. With no one to turn to, Sarah departs on the Serpent, a ship destined for lands afar. Sarah’s passage to the colony of New South Wales is a death defying adventure. When the Serpent lands into trouble and hits rocky terrain, Sarah is the only passenger on board to survive the wreck. Taking on a new identity, Sarah begins to take steps towards building a life for herself in this new colony. The search for employment leads Sarah to a woman named Molly Thistle, who brings about plenty of confusion and change in Sarah’s life. But Sarah cannot escape her past, will it continue to haunt her?
The Wreck is a rich historical fiction composition, pulled from research and fact by author Meg Keneally. A smorgasbord of historical detail, compelling characters, enthralling settings and problems to overcome defines The Wreck. This is my second experience of Meg Kennelly’s work and I enjoyed it very much.
Divided into two parts, which are both preceded by notable quotes, The Wreck crosses from northern England, to London, with a stopover in Cape Town, while finally resting in New South Wales. Each location is vividly brought to life through the expert penmanship of Meg Keneally. We get a strong feel for the sights, sounds, smells, social practices, moral expectations and more from each destination. I appreciated my visit to all of the locations featured in The Wreck. However, what I valued the most from this novel was the opportunity to glean more from the history books, particularly the impact of industrialisation on the ordinary men, women and families of this time. It was incredibly detrimental, with poverty, homelessness and the sheer will to survive ruling all else. Keneally does a good job of illuminating this aspect of her tale for the reader.
Strong characters populate The Wreck. This full bodied characterisation spreads right across the novel from the principal character of Sarah, right through to the various supporting cast. We often feel like a bystander during the events of The Wreck, standing alongside Sarah, Molly and the periphery characters of this novel. It feels as if Meg Keneally has taken her figures straight from the pages of history and injected life into these protagonists so we can connect, sympathise and revel in their escapades.
In terms of the plot, readers will be satisfied with rich content and the fast moving pace of this novel. There was never a dull moment to be had and each new chapter brought about a change, problem, or advancement in the narrative. Keneally provides a good blend of adventure, action, danger, peril, friendship, love and satisfaction to her tale. I came away enjoying my sojourn into the past, thanks to the brilliant historical world building provided by Meg Kennelly. The Wreck is highly recommended, especially for keen eyed readers of historical fiction.
*Please note that a free copy of this book was provided to me for review purposes through Beauty & Lace and Echo Publishing.
The Wreck is book #114 of the 2020 Australian Women Writers Challenge
‘No light was coming from the crippled ship and precious little from the sky, so Sarah did not see the next wave until it was almost upon her, a shelf of black, angry water flinging her and the barrel towards the rocks.’
A high seas adventure, a renegade with the will to survive, grit, determination and overcoming adversity leads the charge in The Wreck. The second independent novel from Australian author Meg Keneally successfully recreates times gone by, when the world was adjusting to the changes brought by industrialisation and every day proved to be a fight to survive. Rich in historical fact, detail and inspired by true events, The Wreck is remarkable slice of fiction from Meg Keneally.
Opening in 1820 in Britain, we meet Sarah McCaffrey, who is escaping arrest following her part in a dangerous demonstration. With no one to turn to, Sarah departs on the Serpent, a ship destined for lands afar. Sarah’s passage to the colony of New South Wales is a death defying adventure. When the Serpent lands into trouble and hits rocky terrain, Sarah is the only passenger on board to survive the wreck. Taking on a new identity, Sarah begins to take steps towards building a life for herself in this new colony. The search for employment leads Sarah to a woman named Molly Thistle, who brings about plenty of confusion and change in Sarah’s life. But Sarah cannot escape her past, will it continue to haunt her?
The Wreck is a rich historical fiction composition, pulled from research and fact by author Meg Keneally. A smorgasbord of historical detail, compelling characters, enthralling settings and problems to overcome defines The Wreck. This is my second experience of Meg Kennelly’s work and I enjoyed it very much.
Divided into two parts, which are both preceded by notable quotes, The Wreck crosses from northern England, to London, with a stopover in Cape Town, while finally resting in New South Wales. Each location is vividly brought to life through the expert penmanship of Meg Keneally. We get a strong feel for the sights, sounds, smells, social practices, moral expectations and more from each destination. I appreciated my visit to all of the locations featured in The Wreck. However, what I valued the most from this novel was the opportunity to glean more from the history books, particularly the impact of industrialisation on the ordinary men, women and families of this time. It was incredibly detrimental, with poverty, homelessness and the sheer will to survive ruling all else. Keneally does a good job of illuminating this aspect of her tale for the reader.
Strong characters populate The Wreck. This full bodied characterisation spreads right across the novel from the principal character of Sarah, right through to the various supporting cast. We often feel like a bystander during the events of The Wreck, standing alongside Sarah, Molly and the periphery characters of this novel. It feels as if Meg Keneally has taken her figures straight from the pages of history and injected life into these protagonists so we can connect, sympathise and revel in their escapades.
In terms of the plot, readers will be satisfied with rich content and the fast moving pace of this novel. There was never a dull moment to be had and each new chapter brought about a change, problem, or advancement in the narrative. Keneally provides a good blend of adventure, action, danger, peril, friendship, love and satisfaction to her tale. I came away enjoying my sojourn into the past, thanks to the brilliant historical world building provided by Meg Kennelly. The Wreck is highly recommended, especially for keen eyed readers of historical fiction.
*Please note that a free copy of this book was provided to me for review purposes through Beauty & Lace and Echo Publishing.
The Wreck is book #114 of the 2020 Australian Women Writers Challenge
September 27, 2020
The Wreck is an engaging historical fiction novel from Australian author Meg Keneally.
Less than a year after Sarah McCaffrey’s parents are murdered while attending a peaceful protest against the cruelty of the Westminster government, Sarah is forced to flee London accused of high treason when a plan to attack the Cabinet is betrayed. Finding herself on a ship bound for the colony of Australia, her plans go awry when The Serpent wrecks against The Gap. As the only survivor, calling herself Sarah Marin, she is taken under the wing of local business owner, Molly Thistle, but even though she has come so far, her past threatens to sink her new life.
Set in the early 1800’s, The Wreck exposes what life was like for the women and men of the working class in London, left to starve when industrialisation made them redundant. Merging fact with fiction, Keneally places Sarah at the Peterloo Massacre, described at ‘the bloodiest political event of the 19th century in English soil'.
The wreck of The Serpent also draws inspiration from a true event, the sinking of The Dunbar in the mid 1850’s, which still ranks as one of Australia’s worst maritime disasters with the loss of all but one of its 122 crew and passengers, a young Able Seaman thrown onto a cliff ledge.
The township of Sydney, still in its infancy in 1820, is well described by Keneally with its crowded port and dusty streets. Though the colony is plagued with similar social issues as in London, which especially affect women, Sarah’s association with Mrs Thistle (modelled loosely on Mary Reibey) helps her to recognise there are alternatives to fostering change, that do less harm to those they are trying to help.
Keneally has created a strong-willed and resilient heroine in Sarah, though her age is never stated she is probably only in her late teens when she arrives in Australia. She has endured so much loss that her anger at the government and the ruling class is understandable. In the wake of the massacre, Sarah was easily convinced a bloody revolution could be the only answer, but once in Australia, Sarah’s opinion begins to change. I liked the friendship between Sarah and Nell, and the mentoring relationship that Keneally developed between Sarah and Mrs Thistle. The touch of romance is sweet addition too.
A well-written story of rebellion, betrayal, survival and courage, I enjoyed The Wreck.
Less than a year after Sarah McCaffrey’s parents are murdered while attending a peaceful protest against the cruelty of the Westminster government, Sarah is forced to flee London accused of high treason when a plan to attack the Cabinet is betrayed. Finding herself on a ship bound for the colony of Australia, her plans go awry when The Serpent wrecks against The Gap. As the only survivor, calling herself Sarah Marin, she is taken under the wing of local business owner, Molly Thistle, but even though she has come so far, her past threatens to sink her new life.
Set in the early 1800’s, The Wreck exposes what life was like for the women and men of the working class in London, left to starve when industrialisation made them redundant. Merging fact with fiction, Keneally places Sarah at the Peterloo Massacre, described at ‘the bloodiest political event of the 19th century in English soil'.
The wreck of The Serpent also draws inspiration from a true event, the sinking of The Dunbar in the mid 1850’s, which still ranks as one of Australia’s worst maritime disasters with the loss of all but one of its 122 crew and passengers, a young Able Seaman thrown onto a cliff ledge.
The township of Sydney, still in its infancy in 1820, is well described by Keneally with its crowded port and dusty streets. Though the colony is plagued with similar social issues as in London, which especially affect women, Sarah’s association with Mrs Thistle (modelled loosely on Mary Reibey) helps her to recognise there are alternatives to fostering change, that do less harm to those they are trying to help.
Keneally has created a strong-willed and resilient heroine in Sarah, though her age is never stated she is probably only in her late teens when she arrives in Australia. She has endured so much loss that her anger at the government and the ruling class is understandable. In the wake of the massacre, Sarah was easily convinced a bloody revolution could be the only answer, but once in Australia, Sarah’s opinion begins to change. I liked the friendship between Sarah and Nell, and the mentoring relationship that Keneally developed between Sarah and Mrs Thistle. The touch of romance is sweet addition too.
A well-written story of rebellion, betrayal, survival and courage, I enjoyed The Wreck.
August 15, 2020
sad and real and moving.
definitely recommend
Historical fiction- set in 1820- with a dash of romance
Australian author
Set in London and Australia
It’s late I really don’t feel like writing a review however I’ve told myself to start using this app/website more so here I am.
I basically started this book at 4pm and read until 1:30am- Literally couldn’t put the book down. I borrowed the book for an author visit on Friday the 21 of august but I think I’m going to buy it. This book made my appreciate the rights I have as a woman and made me want to continue fighting for equality. It also made me grateful for all the good people in the world- you know who you are.
Love, 🌞🌻
definitely recommend
Historical fiction- set in 1820- with a dash of romance
Australian author
Set in London and Australia
It’s late I really don’t feel like writing a review however I’ve told myself to start using this app/website more so here I am.
I basically started this book at 4pm and read until 1:30am- Literally couldn’t put the book down. I borrowed the book for an author visit on Friday the 21 of august but I think I’m going to buy it. This book made my appreciate the rights I have as a woman and made me want to continue fighting for equality. It also made me grateful for all the good people in the world- you know who you are.
Love, 🌞🌻
November 5, 2020
‘Talk is where everything starts. And they know it.’
A peaceful rebellion in Manchester, England in 1819 leave Sarah McCaffrey and her brother Sam orphaned. They move to London where their involvement in a failed rebellion in 1820 leads to Sam being hanged for high treason and Sarah fleeing for her life. Sarah finds herself aboard the Serpent bound for New South Wales.
‘She was alone, at the edge of everything.’
But when the Serpent is wrecked off the Gap, Sarah is the only survivor. She awakens in the infirmary and, as Sarah Marin, starts a new life. Molly Thistle, ex-convict, and local entrepreneur employs Sarah. And Sarah soon becomes an important part of Molly Thistle’s empire. However, Sarah’s past threatens to catch up with her.
Ms Keneally has drawn from historic figures and events to create this engrossing tale of fiction, including the Peterloo Massacre (Manchester 1819) and the wreck of the Dunbar (in 1857). Sarah is idealistic, courageous, and strong. In New South Wales, her idealism is tempered by realism as she comes to realise that rebellion is not the only way to effect social change.
I enjoyed this novel, with its well-defined characters and focus, both in the UK and in New South Wales, on a range of early 19th century social issues.
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
A peaceful rebellion in Manchester, England in 1819 leave Sarah McCaffrey and her brother Sam orphaned. They move to London where their involvement in a failed rebellion in 1820 leads to Sam being hanged for high treason and Sarah fleeing for her life. Sarah finds herself aboard the Serpent bound for New South Wales.
‘She was alone, at the edge of everything.’
But when the Serpent is wrecked off the Gap, Sarah is the only survivor. She awakens in the infirmary and, as Sarah Marin, starts a new life. Molly Thistle, ex-convict, and local entrepreneur employs Sarah. And Sarah soon becomes an important part of Molly Thistle’s empire. However, Sarah’s past threatens to catch up with her.
Ms Keneally has drawn from historic figures and events to create this engrossing tale of fiction, including the Peterloo Massacre (Manchester 1819) and the wreck of the Dunbar (in 1857). Sarah is idealistic, courageous, and strong. In New South Wales, her idealism is tempered by realism as she comes to realise that rebellion is not the only way to effect social change.
I enjoyed this novel, with its well-defined characters and focus, both in the UK and in New South Wales, on a range of early 19th century social issues.
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
August 19, 2020
LITERALLY SO GOOD THE WRITING AND STORY IS ALL SO AMAZING HIGHLY RECOMMEND
October 5, 2020
This is the second solo book by Meg Keneally, and the first of her works that I have read. Her first solo novel was Fled, and she has also co-authored two books with her father Tom Keneally (with a rumoured ten more to come!).
I loved the cover chosen for this work, the threatening seas, waves crashing on the huge cliffs, the windswept girl and the, by comparison, small boat battling to stay on course. Even the title is wreathed in splashes of water and the writing looks like it has survived a storm. Look even closer and you can see parts of what may be a letter, or writing in a journal, hiding within the stormy skies. So evocative.
The tale itself, a skilful piece of historical fiction, introduces us to Sarah McCaffrey, daughter of skilled cloth artisans whose livelihoods have been jeopardized by the industrial revolution and the introduction of the cotton mills. Forced into working at the mills in order to survive, struggling to put food on the table, and with a government that seemed to care little for the common person, the story opens on 16 August 1819 in Manchester England. Today the people of the town are marching, laughing and singing to the open fields where they will be addressed by the great orator, Harold Hartford, supported by Delia Burns, founder of the local Female Reform Society, a group to which Sarah and her mother Emily belong.
On arrival at the designated place Hartford and Burns ascend the makeshift stage and Hartford begins to speak. He is only a few words in when the unthinkable happens, the Magistrates, having deemed the gathering to be illegal, and afraid of what the gathering foretells, sends armed Yeomanry and Hussars into a peaceful unarmed crowd. When the carnage is over, and dead and dying litter the field Sarah finds her brother alive Sam, but her parents senselessly killed.
A chance meeting sees Sarah and Sam moving to London and embroiled in a plot to kill members of the government. When things go wrong Sam is arrested, tried for Treason and condemned to death. Sarah manages to avoid detection, but now there is a price on her head.
She manages to obtain passage on a ship bound for Australia but a series of events including wild weather, a misunderstanding of the position of the lighthouse, and a ship held together with second hand parts sees it floundering on the rocks at the Heads.
When Sarah awakes in an infirmary she is stunned to discover that she is the sole survivor of the ship. Alone, penniless, in a foreign country, but still with fire in her heart for the revolution to oust the English government, Sarah must now work out how to survive.
But the English arm of the law is long, and Sarah is still wanted for high treason. The arrival of one of the other participants in the failed coup in a convict chain gang confirms this.
Can Sarah escape the fate that awaits her if she is discovered and instead make a new life for herself as she finds there is more than one way to change the world?
I thoroughly enjoyed this book; whilst we know that the industrial revolution changed most peoples’ lives for the better in the long term, it was very interesting to read a book from the perspective of a family that had lost their livelihood as a result of the mills and the impact it had on them. I also enjoyed reading a book that addressed early settler life in Australia from neither the convict or the free settler perspective. Keneally describes an entirely different perspective on early settler life with strong believable characters from differing backgrounds trying to make a go in an often hostile new land.
Many thanks to Beauty and Lace book club and Echo publishing for the opportunity to read and review this book. If you love historical fiction you are sure to love this book, highly recommended.
I loved the cover chosen for this work, the threatening seas, waves crashing on the huge cliffs, the windswept girl and the, by comparison, small boat battling to stay on course. Even the title is wreathed in splashes of water and the writing looks like it has survived a storm. Look even closer and you can see parts of what may be a letter, or writing in a journal, hiding within the stormy skies. So evocative.
The tale itself, a skilful piece of historical fiction, introduces us to Sarah McCaffrey, daughter of skilled cloth artisans whose livelihoods have been jeopardized by the industrial revolution and the introduction of the cotton mills. Forced into working at the mills in order to survive, struggling to put food on the table, and with a government that seemed to care little for the common person, the story opens on 16 August 1819 in Manchester England. Today the people of the town are marching, laughing and singing to the open fields where they will be addressed by the great orator, Harold Hartford, supported by Delia Burns, founder of the local Female Reform Society, a group to which Sarah and her mother Emily belong.
On arrival at the designated place Hartford and Burns ascend the makeshift stage and Hartford begins to speak. He is only a few words in when the unthinkable happens, the Magistrates, having deemed the gathering to be illegal, and afraid of what the gathering foretells, sends armed Yeomanry and Hussars into a peaceful unarmed crowd. When the carnage is over, and dead and dying litter the field Sarah finds her brother alive Sam, but her parents senselessly killed.
A chance meeting sees Sarah and Sam moving to London and embroiled in a plot to kill members of the government. When things go wrong Sam is arrested, tried for Treason and condemned to death. Sarah manages to avoid detection, but now there is a price on her head.
She manages to obtain passage on a ship bound for Australia but a series of events including wild weather, a misunderstanding of the position of the lighthouse, and a ship held together with second hand parts sees it floundering on the rocks at the Heads.
When Sarah awakes in an infirmary she is stunned to discover that she is the sole survivor of the ship. Alone, penniless, in a foreign country, but still with fire in her heart for the revolution to oust the English government, Sarah must now work out how to survive.
But the English arm of the law is long, and Sarah is still wanted for high treason. The arrival of one of the other participants in the failed coup in a convict chain gang confirms this.
Can Sarah escape the fate that awaits her if she is discovered and instead make a new life for herself as she finds there is more than one way to change the world?
I thoroughly enjoyed this book; whilst we know that the industrial revolution changed most peoples’ lives for the better in the long term, it was very interesting to read a book from the perspective of a family that had lost their livelihood as a result of the mills and the impact it had on them. I also enjoyed reading a book that addressed early settler life in Australia from neither the convict or the free settler perspective. Keneally describes an entirely different perspective on early settler life with strong believable characters from differing backgrounds trying to make a go in an often hostile new land.
Many thanks to Beauty and Lace book club and Echo publishing for the opportunity to read and review this book. If you love historical fiction you are sure to love this book, highly recommended.
August 4, 2020
Bravery of the highest order is seen in what some call a rebel, a radical but definitely a stowaway, shipwreck survivor! This is a woman on a mission and this woman’s name is Sarah McCaffrey who flees a rebellion in London and boards the Serpent ship heading for the colony of New South Wales. But before she sets foot on Australia’s rustic shores, the trial for survival begins. Once in the new land, she finds friendship, sadness, love and eventually forgiveness. Into this strange new existence, she is thrust where her beliefs are challenged and her heart shattered but she discovers there are other ways to bring about the much-needed changes in society.
I sincerely loved Meg Keneally’s second solo The Wreck. This upcoming release due out in September 2020, published by Echo Publishing, is masterfully written and one of the most incredible novels I have ever read. It is brilliant in setting, direction, dialogue, plot and characterisation and will keep you turning page after page cheering, weeping and motivated.
I loved Sarah from the very start and the unfolding of Mrs Thistle's character was pure genius. She's one lady I would want on my side! With some interesting common threads between them, their union leads the reader down some fascinating roads and detours. Mrs Thistle’s mentorship also helps Sarah grow in ways she would never have anticipated.
I was deeply moved by the story and characters. Also, the detail of each authentic setting drew me in and my experience was heightened by it. This is a novel that would do well on the big screen.
I highly recommend this novel to every person who enjoys intelligent historical adventures and exquisite writing. I give it a 10 out of 5 as it is just that perfect! Meg, her publisher and team have produced a winner. Don’t miss this release due out in September 2020.
Thanks to Meg and Echo Publishing for an advanced copy. My comments are sincere and an honest review of how I see this novel.
Review as posted on my website.
I sincerely loved Meg Keneally’s second solo The Wreck. This upcoming release due out in September 2020, published by Echo Publishing, is masterfully written and one of the most incredible novels I have ever read. It is brilliant in setting, direction, dialogue, plot and characterisation and will keep you turning page after page cheering, weeping and motivated.
I loved Sarah from the very start and the unfolding of Mrs Thistle's character was pure genius. She's one lady I would want on my side! With some interesting common threads between them, their union leads the reader down some fascinating roads and detours. Mrs Thistle’s mentorship also helps Sarah grow in ways she would never have anticipated.
I was deeply moved by the story and characters. Also, the detail of each authentic setting drew me in and my experience was heightened by it. This is a novel that would do well on the big screen.
I highly recommend this novel to every person who enjoys intelligent historical adventures and exquisite writing. I give it a 10 out of 5 as it is just that perfect! Meg, her publisher and team have produced a winner. Don’t miss this release due out in September 2020.
Thanks to Meg and Echo Publishing for an advanced copy. My comments are sincere and an honest review of how I see this novel.
Review as posted on my website.
September 18, 2020
4.5/5
There seems to be a lot of really great Australian historical fiction around at the moment. Just this year I have read and enjoyed books by Alison Stuart, Victoria Purman, Tea Cooper and more, and now to this list I need to add Meg Keneally.
Sarah McCaffrey is a young woman who was left orphaned when her parents are killed in a peaceful protest turned massacre in Manchester. Along with her brother, Sam, she flees to London but they soon find themselves caught up in a rebellion plot. Unfortunately for Sarah, there is a police informant in their midst so the plot is foiled. Sarah escapes to a ship docked at the wharves of London called The Serpent. All alone in the world, Sarah finds herself unwillingly under sail. The boat, The Serpent, is headed for the other side of the world, to the colony of Sydney.
The ship's captain was an ally to the planned rebellion, but he is a danger in other ways. He doesn't have a great relationship with other captains or shipowners and the ship itself isn't in great condition either.
Having assumed a new identity, Sarah befriends another young woman on the ship, as well as some of the crew. When they are just hours away from reaching their destination there is a terrible storm, and the ship is dashed into the cliffs. Sarah is the only survivor, and so once again she is alone in the world
To read more, head to
http://www.theintrepidreader.com/2020...
There seems to be a lot of really great Australian historical fiction around at the moment. Just this year I have read and enjoyed books by Alison Stuart, Victoria Purman, Tea Cooper and more, and now to this list I need to add Meg Keneally.
Sarah McCaffrey is a young woman who was left orphaned when her parents are killed in a peaceful protest turned massacre in Manchester. Along with her brother, Sam, she flees to London but they soon find themselves caught up in a rebellion plot. Unfortunately for Sarah, there is a police informant in their midst so the plot is foiled. Sarah escapes to a ship docked at the wharves of London called The Serpent. All alone in the world, Sarah finds herself unwillingly under sail. The boat, The Serpent, is headed for the other side of the world, to the colony of Sydney.
The ship's captain was an ally to the planned rebellion, but he is a danger in other ways. He doesn't have a great relationship with other captains or shipowners and the ship itself isn't in great condition either.
Having assumed a new identity, Sarah befriends another young woman on the ship, as well as some of the crew. When they are just hours away from reaching their destination there is a terrible storm, and the ship is dashed into the cliffs. Sarah is the only survivor, and so once again she is alone in the world
To read more, head to
http://www.theintrepidreader.com/2020...
September 18, 2020
This was interesting Australian historical fiction. Seeing a lot of injustices in he young life, Sarah seeks revolution. I found the scenes in England fascinating. Then the ship wreck and subsequent events. I liked Molly Thistle and all she stood for. Although at times, there seemed a lot of luck, this was still a stirring and imaginative story that captures issues facing women.
September 20, 2020
A very readable historical fiction set in the 1820s in both England and Australia. I was thoroughly engaged and couldn’t wait to get back to it. Wouldn’t mind a sequel either!
August 8, 2021
A protest. A hanging. A stowaway. A ship wreck. A new land. A new opportunity. A past catching up.
November 30, 2020
A deft and prescient novel which examines crucial issues still as relevant today as they were two centuries ago - female leadership, suffrage and friendship, as well as the link between oppression and radicalisation. Highly recommended!
December 14, 2020
Sarah escapes England after she finds herself a wanted person after a failed rebellion attempt. She becomes the only survivor when the ship sinks outside Sydney Harbour. Then begins her life in Sydney - will she continue to be invovled in rebellion in the new colony? I enjoyed the storyline, reading about early Australia is a favourite genre for me, but I did not warm to the characters. I maybe needed a deeper connection.
September 27, 2020
(3.5)The social and political climates of 1819 England and of New South Wales in the early 1820s were skilfully recreated by Keneally in this compelling historical novel. I was disappointed, however, to learn from the Author's Notes that the bulk of Keneally's recreation was entirely fictional, which then explained the absence of the historical detail I normally look for in such a narrative. Nonetheless, Keneally's story featured how young Sarah McCaffrey was drawn into a public massacre that had caused the death of her parents and the rebellion it launched, having prompted her to join with the radicals demanding parliamentary reform from a government accused of starving its impoverished citizens. Sarah's activity forced her to flee England and the same fate of her brother, hanged as a radical and beheaded.
Although I found some of the aspects contrived of Sarah's escape and lone survival of the shipwreck that brought her into Sydney, she was such an intriguing character that my interest in her allowed me to overlook the melodrama. We "experienced" the new colony and its social/political divisions through Sarah's eyes as she adopted a new identity in the chaotic world she now faced as an escapee. The minor characters Keneally created as Sarah's enemies and supporters were credible and engaging, furthering the energy of this narrative. The focus on the females in this tale was welcomed and maintained my interest through until the conclusion...also contrived.
Although I found some of the aspects contrived of Sarah's escape and lone survival of the shipwreck that brought her into Sydney, she was such an intriguing character that my interest in her allowed me to overlook the melodrama. We "experienced" the new colony and its social/political divisions through Sarah's eyes as she adopted a new identity in the chaotic world she now faced as an escapee. The minor characters Keneally created as Sarah's enemies and supporters were credible and engaging, furthering the energy of this narrative. The focus on the females in this tale was welcomed and maintained my interest through until the conclusion...also contrived.
December 11, 2021
awesome read!
December 30, 2024
It's an interesting story, certainly not what I expected but I appreciated the underlying message: violence isn't always the answer for change.
April 11, 2021
I’ve said it often - my favourite book genre is historical fiction and particularly, colonial Australian. So my youngest daughter, Evie, nailed this book gift for me.
The story follows Sarah McCaffrey who is embroiled in a failed rebellion in London in 1820 and stows away on a ship bound for New South Wales. An incompetent captain causes The Serpent to crash on its entrance into Sydney Harbour leaving Sarah the only survivor. She is given a job by the formidable businesswoman Molly Thistle, based on the real life Mary Reibey, but her past soon catches up with her threatening to destroy her attempt at a new life.
The depth of research in this book is obvious, with major plot highlights, like the wreck and the rebellion, drawn from real events. But Keneally’s prose also brings to life everyday life in the early colony; you can smell the sweat and odour in the crude taverns and see the dust rise up on the primitive roads.
It’s no surprise I loved this book, the characters are beautifully constructed, well-layered and compelling and the plot is perfectly crafted, resulting in a gripping book I literally couldn’t put down.
The story follows Sarah McCaffrey who is embroiled in a failed rebellion in London in 1820 and stows away on a ship bound for New South Wales. An incompetent captain causes The Serpent to crash on its entrance into Sydney Harbour leaving Sarah the only survivor. She is given a job by the formidable businesswoman Molly Thistle, based on the real life Mary Reibey, but her past soon catches up with her threatening to destroy her attempt at a new life.
The depth of research in this book is obvious, with major plot highlights, like the wreck and the rebellion, drawn from real events. But Keneally’s prose also brings to life everyday life in the early colony; you can smell the sweat and odour in the crude taverns and see the dust rise up on the primitive roads.
It’s no surprise I loved this book, the characters are beautifully constructed, well-layered and compelling and the plot is perfectly crafted, resulting in a gripping book I literally couldn’t put down.
July 26, 2021
First two thirds are good, if meandering and uncertain. It reads in these parts like an epic, following a character through twists and turns, and if the book were longer and more ambitious then this style would work. But the final third reads like the author has grown bored and just wants to move onto another project. The murder/trial episode in this portion is a completely wasted opportunity, which if used right could have added some very tense drama and brought everything that's happened so far together. But no. It comes to nothing. There's then a sudden (and i have to say rather unimaginative) climax, and a swerve into a romance thread i never found convincing.
Overall, it just doesn't read like it was very carefully planned out. Some very nice writing, but a plot that doesn't know where it's going, and by the end doesn't seem to care.
And the message at the end after a story all about social justice is: hooray capitalism! Serve the wealthy to help the poor! Yay! ...wtf?!
Overall, it just doesn't read like it was very carefully planned out. Some very nice writing, but a plot that doesn't know where it's going, and by the end doesn't seem to care.
And the message at the end after a story all about social justice is: hooray capitalism! Serve the wealthy to help the poor! Yay! ...wtf?!
April 30, 2024
TL;DR: Historical radical feminist realness meets fantasy-style writing voice. I LOVED this book. Perfect for anyone who is interested in historical contexts (such as Female Reform Societies, The Peterloo Massacre, Mary Reibey, or the Wreck of Dunbar) written in an eloquent, intriguing voice. Or anyone who simply wants a great novel with the strength of the human spirit and existence at the forefront.
"Women hunger, and women die, so women must also fight ... Revolution is the only remaining
course."
Okay. I was not expecting this book to lure me in the way it did.
I don't really go for historical fiction (though this one is lightly inspired by real events). However, this book's voice was SO eloquent, unique, and felt as if a fantasy author was writing it. The vocabulary, metaphors, and descriptions were so beautifully unique and vibrated off the pages.
For example, why say, "she kept thinking about it," when you could say, quote, "Questions rolled around in the back of her mind like sparring scuttlers outside a beer house."
Why say, "they were hungry," when you could say, "He had seen his family eat food not fit for dogs, and watched his children gradually waste, becoming creatures of sharp angles rather than gentle curves."
One of the most incredible (and heartbreaking) things about this novel, is that, though it is set in the 1800s, it has many relatable parallels to today's world.
This book comments on:
-P0lice brutality: "(S)he had wondered if those objected to questions did not have reasonable answers."
-Gender(in)equality: "Sarah has, since girlhood, been told what others would or would not allow. Such words only lay comfortably in the mouths of tyrants."
-Elitists/Disparity between income brackets: "No one pays any attention to the dirty, unless they're threatening to soil fine cloth, too."
February 2, 2021
Meg Keneally takes us back to the early 19th Century in this historical fiction tale of adventure and rebellion. Sarah McCaffrey lives in Manchester and her family attends the peaceful protest for rights and votes which becomes the Peterloo massacre of 1819. What happens here has a profound personal effect on Sarah’s life, seeing her head to London with a fierce determination to fight for the rights of the ordinary man, and woman. After a dramatic turn of events in the rebellion she is involved with, Sarah becomes a wanted woman, then a stowaway on a ship bound for Australia, where the next part of her life begins, experiencing life in the colony, forming friendships. Though further plot is revealed in the book’s synopsis, I’d say it’s perhaps worth avoiding that if you can so that more of the events are a surprise to be unveiled as you read.
I felt drawn in to this plot-driven story from the start, I loved the idea behind it, the strong-willed female main character and her determination to try and bring about change, and the character development as she learns that there’s more than one way of doing this. There were some engaging minor characters Sarah encounters along the way. There’s some interesting insight into England during this period, although I would have liked a bit more historical detail at times, and to have felt a stronger connection to the characters. The story offers much for a book club to discuss.
I felt drawn in to this plot-driven story from the start, I loved the idea behind it, the strong-willed female main character and her determination to try and bring about change, and the character development as she learns that there’s more than one way of doing this. There were some engaging minor characters Sarah encounters along the way. There’s some interesting insight into England during this period, although I would have liked a bit more historical detail at times, and to have felt a stronger connection to the characters. The story offers much for a book club to discuss.
November 16, 2020
An interesting book which shapes its narrative around several events and characters in history without trying to retell their story. For instance, the horror of the Peterloo Masacre in St Peters Field, Manchester in 1819, when up to 100,000 peaceful and hungry people turned up to listen to a speaker talk about change and empowerment for the poor but were instead mowed down and many of them killed. Keneally brings the impact of this event on her main character, Sarah, down to the individual level. The high treason which is attempted soon after also owes its inspiration on a real event and Sarah's survival from a shipwreck off the Gap, outside the Sydney heads, owes its descriptive nature to the retelling of the Dunbar tragedy. Mrs Thistle is a product of the life accounts of the doer widow merchant of early Sydney fame, Mary Reibey but to the author's credit, she is not Mrs Thistle either. The story itself rolls along at a good pace, sometimes at the cost of character development, which often requires the reader to not examine the charcaters too closely. Despite this, its a good tale and one which differs from most others of early Australia, in that women rise above the gender and class suppression of the England of their birth, to be strong, influential lead characters. One wonders if that is because history was written by men or re-written by women?
March 20, 2021
I picked this book up from a charity shop not paying too much attention of what was written on the back cover and found it almost unnerving to find I was reading a book that starts with a demonstration taking place to call for the rights of women. At this time in Australian history, 200 years after this book was set, we are still fighting for basic human rights for women. I won't extrapolate on my thought on the issues here as the book is much more than that, but perhaps that really made this book talk to me.
I found it compelling and certainly wanted to ready more. The entire time I wanted to shout at Sarah and say beg her to settle for happy life, instead of the misery that her beliefs were going to lead her to, but, then there would not be a book.
Anyway, I did feel the ending was rushed, but that is probably because I became attached to Sarah and Molly, so I wasn't happy for the book to skip so far forward and end with a fairy tail ending. Anyway, I still enjoyed this book and hence the rating.
I found it compelling and certainly wanted to ready more. The entire time I wanted to shout at Sarah and say beg her to settle for happy life, instead of the misery that her beliefs were going to lead her to, but, then there would not be a book.
Anyway, I did feel the ending was rushed, but that is probably because I became attached to Sarah and Molly, so I wasn't happy for the book to skip so far forward and end with a fairy tail ending. Anyway, I still enjoyed this book and hence the rating.
July 15, 2021
This book was articulate, lively, engaging, well-researched and filled with hope. I enjoyed Sarah's character, even though her repeated rescues were extraordinary and perhaps, at least in relation to the last, far-fetched. However, I did appreciate that the story did not end with the grinding hopelessness and the depraved existence that characterised the women of the early colony of New South Wales. Ms Keneally has brought to life characters of warmth, who were a little one dimensional, but nevertheless drew you into their lives and engaged the reader's empathy and drew you forward through the story.
Grief and poverty were dealt with by a very light hand, perhaps too light to really give the appropriate level of depth and understanding that the story required.
Grief and poverty were dealt with by a very light hand, perhaps too light to really give the appropriate level of depth and understanding that the story required.
May 19, 2025
3.5 stars
I enjoyed reading The Wreck. The language fits the time period well, and there are phrases from the book that I’ll definitely be adding to my own vocabulary. Sarah’s development throughout the story was heartfelt and inspiring. I loved how her growth was portrayed. It kept me engaged and was the main reason I kept reading.
The one thing that really annoyed me was the pacing. Some parts were overly detailed and dragged a bit, while others felt rushed. For example, the section in London with Sarah, her brother, Henry, and the rest of the gang had so much potential, but it was over way too soon, in my opinion. I wish we’d gotten more insight into what happened and why it all fell apart so fast. That being said, I still really enjoyed this piece of historical fiction.
I enjoyed reading The Wreck. The language fits the time period well, and there are phrases from the book that I’ll definitely be adding to my own vocabulary. Sarah’s development throughout the story was heartfelt and inspiring. I loved how her growth was portrayed. It kept me engaged and was the main reason I kept reading.
The one thing that really annoyed me was the pacing. Some parts were overly detailed and dragged a bit, while others felt rushed. For example, the section in London with Sarah, her brother, Henry, and the rest of the gang had so much potential, but it was over way too soon, in my opinion. I wish we’d gotten more insight into what happened and why it all fell apart so fast. That being said, I still really enjoyed this piece of historical fiction.
January 22, 2021
I really enjoyed this book. Easy to read, interesting story line. History is an obsession of mine, and reading novels is easier than reading texts or academic articles, though they can be fascinating too. A novel speaks to the senses as much as to the mind. This is a story about early Sydney, though it begins in England. It uses various historical events as inspiration, but the characters are fictional. I have spent a lot of time in Sydney over the years but I have very little feeling for "old Sydney town." This book went a way toward remedying that. I look forward to reading more of Meg Keneally's stories.
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