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Desert Queen: The lives and loves of the shameless, reckless, undaunted Daisy Bates
The Queen of the Never Never as never seen before! In the 1890s, when a woman's role was seen as marrying well and raising a family, Daisy Bates reinvented herself from humble governess to heiress-traveller and 'woman of science'. She would become one of the best-known and most controversial ethnologists in history, and one of the fi rst people to put Aboriginal culture on the map. Born into tough circumstances, Daisy's prospects were dim; her father an alcoholic bootmaker, her mother dying of consumption when Daisy was only four years old. through sheer strength of will, young Daisy overcame her miserable start, and in 1883 she migrated to Australia with a boatload of orphans, passing herself off as an heiress who taught for fun. Marriage followed - first with the young Breaker Morant, then bigamously with two other husbands. For decades she led a double life. But who was the real Daisy Bates? While other biographies have presented her as a saint, historian Susanna de Vries gives readers a more complex portrait of the 'Queen of the Never Never'.
323 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2008
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55 people want to read
About the author
Susanna de Vries
40 books11 followers(From 'Blue Ribbons Bitter Bread')
SUSANNA DE VRIES is an art historian who has now retired from lecturing at the Continuing Education Department of the University of Queensland. She was born in London and attended the Sorbonne in Paris and the University of Madrid. She came to Australia in 1975, has been the recipient of a Churchill Fellowship and has written extensively on art history, both here and abroad. She was made a member of the Order of Australia in 1996 'for services to Australian and European art'.
In addition to writing Blue Ribbons Bitter Bread, which has won several awards, Susanna is the author of the following books: Historic Brisbane and its Early Artists; Historic Sydney—the Founding of Australia; Pioneer Women, Pioneer Land; The Impressionists Revealed; Conrad Martens on the 'Beagle' and in Australia; Ethel Carrick Fox—Travels and Triumphs of a Post-Impressionist; Strength of Spirit—Pioneering Women of Achievement from First Fleet to Federation and Strength of Purpose—Australian Women of Achievement; part-author of Parenting Girls with Dr Janet Irwin. For HarperCollins she has written a four-volume paperback series on Great Australia Women. Volumes One and Two have now been reissued as a double volume titled Great Australian Women, 36 Women who Changed Australia, and Volume Three Heroic Australian Women in War [HarperCollins, 2004]. Volume Four is titled Great Women of the Outback [HarperCollins 2005]. Together with her husband, Jake de Vries she has written the illustrated book Historic Brisbane—Convict Settlement to River City [published by Pandanus Press] and To Hell and Back, the banned account of Gallipoli.
(From 'Royal Mistresses')
Susanna de Vries was born and raised in England and now divides her time between Australia and Europe. She is the author of a dozen biographies of women and three books of art history.
As an adopted child, the product of a liaison between a married aristocrat and his married mistress, she was drawn to research this complex topic and the result was Royal Mistresses.
Educated at St George’s Ascot, Berkshire Susanna studied art history and literature in Paris and Madrid. She undertook post-graduate study in Florence and on a Churchill Fellowship was allowed to conduct research in the Royal Library at Windsor Castle. She received an Order of Australia (AM) for ‘services to art and literature’ and an award for a distinguished contribution to literature by the Australian Society of Women Writers. She has retired from lecturing at university but is an approved lecturer for the Australian branch of NADFAS, the Fine and Decorative Art Society.
Susanna became interested in effects of arranged marriages between cousins, a usual practice among royal families and the genetic and psychological effects when her first husband worked in the Department of Clinical Psychiatry headed by Professor Sir Martin Roth, a respected psychiatrist consulted by several members of the royal family and came to Australia when her late husband was appointed professor at the Medical School of the University of Queensland.
SUSANNA DE VRIES is an art historian who has now retired from lecturing at the Continuing Education Department of the University of Queensland. She was born in London and attended the Sorbonne in Paris and the University of Madrid. She came to Australia in 1975, has been the recipient of a Churchill Fellowship and has written extensively on art history, both here and abroad. She was made a member of the Order of Australia in 1996 'for services to Australian and European art'.
In addition to writing Blue Ribbons Bitter Bread, which has won several awards, Susanna is the author of the following books: Historic Brisbane and its Early Artists; Historic Sydney—the Founding of Australia; Pioneer Women, Pioneer Land; The Impressionists Revealed; Conrad Martens on the 'Beagle' and in Australia; Ethel Carrick Fox—Travels and Triumphs of a Post-Impressionist; Strength of Spirit—Pioneering Women of Achievement from First Fleet to Federation and Strength of Purpose—Australian Women of Achievement; part-author of Parenting Girls with Dr Janet Irwin. For HarperCollins she has written a four-volume paperback series on Great Australia Women. Volumes One and Two have now been reissued as a double volume titled Great Australian Women, 36 Women who Changed Australia, and Volume Three Heroic Australian Women in War [HarperCollins, 2004]. Volume Four is titled Great Women of the Outback [HarperCollins 2005]. Together with her husband, Jake de Vries she has written the illustrated book Historic Brisbane—Convict Settlement to River City [published by Pandanus Press] and To Hell and Back, the banned account of Gallipoli.
(From 'Royal Mistresses')
Susanna de Vries was born and raised in England and now divides her time between Australia and Europe. She is the author of a dozen biographies of women and three books of art history.
As an adopted child, the product of a liaison between a married aristocrat and his married mistress, she was drawn to research this complex topic and the result was Royal Mistresses.
Educated at St George’s Ascot, Berkshire Susanna studied art history and literature in Paris and Madrid. She undertook post-graduate study in Florence and on a Churchill Fellowship was allowed to conduct research in the Royal Library at Windsor Castle. She received an Order of Australia (AM) for ‘services to art and literature’ and an award for a distinguished contribution to literature by the Australian Society of Women Writers. She has retired from lecturing at university but is an approved lecturer for the Australian branch of NADFAS, the Fine and Decorative Art Society.
Susanna became interested in effects of arranged marriages between cousins, a usual practice among royal families and the genetic and psychological effects when her first husband worked in the Department of Clinical Psychiatry headed by Professor Sir Martin Roth, a respected psychiatrist consulted by several members of the royal family and came to Australia when her late husband was appointed professor at the Medical School of the University of Queensland.
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
December 30, 2017
intresting women. i would personally give it a 2.5 as it draged on and was boring in some parts.
April 5, 2021
I quite enjoyed the tale, despite some of being surmised/embellished. The narrator's voice irritated me initially, I overcame that to finish the audiobook.
January 24, 2018
As fascinated as I am by Daisy Bates, the dead weight of De Vries ensures that the true majesty of her life and research remains hidden from view.
I do acknowledge thanks to De Vries; now that I have battled through this turgid dross I can erase her from my list of authors to read.
I do acknowledge thanks to De Vries; now that I have battled through this turgid dross I can erase her from my list of authors to read.
September 22, 2021
Stumbled across a quote from Daisy Bates in an excellent Lustre: Pearling in Australia exhibition. It was with reference to Western Australian aborigines. I don’t believe I have heard about Daisy - but believe passionately that this is the time for historical female figures to be acknowledged and celebrated. This book is quite clinical in style, draws conclusions and written with an assumption that the reader already knows of Daisy. However, Daisy is a character worthy of exploring. She was respected by aboriginal communities she observed, she struggled as an early female sociologist - and whilst there are challenges to her writings, her life was amazing.
January 10, 2019
I knew very little about Daisy Bates and I felt conflict about who she seemed to be. Someone that was concerned about society and status but lived in a tent to observe Aboriginal people. I admire the author for tackling such a complex and sometimes problematic person. Overall though it seems as though Daisy Bates’ work was invaluable in documenting the life and customs of indigenous Australians.
January 11, 2025
Interesting story of a pioneering woman, Daisy Bates, working with and recording language of indigenous Australians. Today she is largely unknown. Although her approach and opinions now are outdated, this is still an interesting slice of Australian and women's history and we have Mrs Bates to thank for much of the written records of Aboriginal language and land stewardship.
January 25, 2018
Loved this book. Honest and exciting
This woman was amazing. Of Irish decent moved to Australia and lived and worked with the aboriginals.
Just a thought: The webs we weave when at first we practice to deceive.
This woman was amazing. Of Irish decent moved to Australia and lived and worked with the aboriginals.
Just a thought: The webs we weave when at first we practice to deceive.
December 8, 2019
This is such an interesting story about the sort of nation we are. Loved it. Susanna is an excellent author.
January 22, 2021
A very different life.
April 23, 2021
Listened to the audio-book, really didn't like the narrater but persisted and it was worth it.
November 26, 2021
Well researched book.
February 5, 2023
3.5 stars
August 18, 2016
A fascinating read about a complex but inspiring woman. Susanna De Vries untangles some of the real story of Daisy Bates, Irish orphan, who emigrated to Australia in the 1880s, from Daisy's own created fictional version of her life. She spends the early part of her life trying to escape the poverty of her childhood and create a life of comfort and opulence, with lies and marriages intended to further her future. She marries Breaker Morant, then leaves him and bigamously marries two other men. All of her relationships end in disappointment and her life seems to reach a turning point. Instead of striving to create a society life for herself she turns her back on society and convention and dedicates the rest of her life to studying the languages, culture and mythology of the Aboriginal tribes of Western Australia and the desert regions, and doing her best to help them in their struggle with poverty and ill-health. Hard not to be inspired by the courage and humanity of a woman in the Edwardian era, travelling alone and living in some of the harshest and remotest places on earth in a tent, using her own very meagre funds to feed and nurse struggling people. Daisy has her critics, and seems to be castigated for her comments on cannibalism and also her view that part-Aboriginal girls should be sent away from the communities where she witnessed them prostituted out to men of European and other races in exchange for alcohol from as young as ten years of age. I found the author's attribution of Daisy's eccentricities and non-politically correct stand-points to vascular dementia a little odd, seeing she spent so much of her life in isolated remote areas I doubt very much she had a regular physician to make this diagnosis. I think the story indirectly shows the Australian government in a very bad light. While happy to sanction her work and give her titles, they are never prepared to fund her and neither do they acede to her many pleas to relieve the plight and horrific conditions of our indigenous people. Essentially it appears they do not care, and turn a blind eye.
A story about a complex, flawed and eccentric woman, who flouts all the rules for women in her era and lives a life of courage and passion. Remarkable!
A story about a complex, flawed and eccentric woman, who flouts all the rules for women in her era and lives a life of courage and passion. Remarkable!
May 6, 2014
Daisy Bates in not an easy biography subject. The woman built a web of lies around herself when she was younger, and later in life burned all her personal papers. Susanna de Vries has done a solid job researching, unraveling and telling the story of this fascinating woman. Desert Queen isn’t a great biography, but it’s highly readable and you can’t really go wrong with the subject matter.
Daisy Bates emigrated from Ireland to Australia in 1883. Aware that her prospects were dim, she lied about her family and background, in the hope of securing herself a favorable marriage. Instead, she briefly married Breaker Morant, followed by two bigamous marriages, and had her only child, Arnold. She became a journalist, and later an anthropologist, albeit an unrecognized one in academic circles.
It was her work with Australia’s indigenous people that set her apart from other women of her time. She lived in a tent in harsh conditions and spent years writing down their stories. She recorded hunting territories and boundaries, and these records are used today in land rights claims. She nursed and fed sick aboriginal people, using her time with them to gather information about their cultural practices and languages. Her work remains controversial. She self-funded all her work, often writing pieces about aboriginal cannibalism, knowing it would sell, but which ultimately harmed her anthropological reputation.
De Vries does a solid job at capturing both the fascinating and frustrating aspects of this complex character, but I had some problems with the book. I didn’t like how she regularly assumed to know how Daisy felt, despite there being no record of that moment. Also, she puts forward a couple of pretty outrageous theories as if they are fact. And the final part of the book, which tells of Daisy’s spiral into dementia might as well be fiction. Daisy was never diagnosed with dementia.
This aside, it’s an interesting tale about a fascinating woman. I do love my female traveller tales, and Daisy’s story is a good one, and Desert Queen a decent telling of it.
Daisy Bates emigrated from Ireland to Australia in 1883. Aware that her prospects were dim, she lied about her family and background, in the hope of securing herself a favorable marriage. Instead, she briefly married Breaker Morant, followed by two bigamous marriages, and had her only child, Arnold. She became a journalist, and later an anthropologist, albeit an unrecognized one in academic circles.
It was her work with Australia’s indigenous people that set her apart from other women of her time. She lived in a tent in harsh conditions and spent years writing down their stories. She recorded hunting territories and boundaries, and these records are used today in land rights claims. She nursed and fed sick aboriginal people, using her time with them to gather information about their cultural practices and languages. Her work remains controversial. She self-funded all her work, often writing pieces about aboriginal cannibalism, knowing it would sell, but which ultimately harmed her anthropological reputation.
De Vries does a solid job at capturing both the fascinating and frustrating aspects of this complex character, but I had some problems with the book. I didn’t like how she regularly assumed to know how Daisy felt, despite there being no record of that moment. Also, she puts forward a couple of pretty outrageous theories as if they are fact. And the final part of the book, which tells of Daisy’s spiral into dementia might as well be fiction. Daisy was never diagnosed with dementia.
This aside, it’s an interesting tale about a fascinating woman. I do love my female traveller tales, and Daisy’s story is a good one, and Desert Queen a decent telling of it.
January 15, 2016
MP3 audio
nonfiction...biography
6 October 1859 – 18 April 1951
As an anthropologist living among the Australian aborigines, Daisy Mae Bates compiled and published a unique collection of material about them.
She was born as Margaret Dwyer in County Tipperary, Ireland in 1859. At age 23, she emigrated to Australia on the R.M.S. Almora and began life anew.
She reworked the threads of childhood poverty and created a Daisy May O'Dwyer, born into a life of opulence.
She married poet and horseman Breaker Morant (1884).
Never divorced, she moved to New South Wales and met and married John (Jack) Bates..(1885)
"Daisy Bates' pulled herself up to become governess, wife, mother, journalist, intrepid traveler and one of Australia's most controversial ethnographers. Her lack of convention went deeper than her private life; at a time when white Australia mostly turned its back on indigenous Australians, Daisy set out to study desert Aborigines and document their culture." (publishers note)
Apparently the web of lies woven made Daisy a somewhat difficult biographical study.
I did appreciate reading historian Susanna de Vries portrait of Daisy Bates.
nonfiction...biography
6 October 1859 – 18 April 1951
As an anthropologist living among the Australian aborigines, Daisy Mae Bates compiled and published a unique collection of material about them.
She was born as Margaret Dwyer in County Tipperary, Ireland in 1859. At age 23, she emigrated to Australia on the R.M.S. Almora and began life anew.
She reworked the threads of childhood poverty and created a Daisy May O'Dwyer, born into a life of opulence.
She married poet and horseman Breaker Morant (1884).
Never divorced, she moved to New South Wales and met and married John (Jack) Bates..(1885)
"Daisy Bates' pulled herself up to become governess, wife, mother, journalist, intrepid traveler and one of Australia's most controversial ethnographers. Her lack of convention went deeper than her private life; at a time when white Australia mostly turned its back on indigenous Australians, Daisy set out to study desert Aborigines and document their culture." (publishers note)
Apparently the web of lies woven made Daisy a somewhat difficult biographical study.
I did appreciate reading historian Susanna de Vries portrait of Daisy Bates.
September 4, 2010
Tended to be repetitive but interesting considering Daisy Bates was doing anthropological research prior to Margaret Mead. Daisy Bates lived to age 90. She did what she could in the turn of the 19th-20th century for the Aborine in the Outback Australia.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews