Book Review

[kenjari]

True History of the Kelly Gang
by Peter Carey

This novel is a fictional autobiography of Ned Kelly, famous Australian outlaw of the 1870s. Carey makes him a sympathetic character without whitewashing his life and actions, giving both the man and his story all the complexity and contradiction that reality often has. You never forget that Ned Kelly was a real person rather than a character in a book. Best of all, Carey makes Ned Kelly's voice engaging and often riveting.

Comments

[epilimnion.livejournal.com]

Ooh, that sounds good. I also want to read his Oscar and Lucinda. Right now I'm on a non-fiction kick though. I'm reading the Great War and Modern Memory by Paul Fussell. It's fascinating, but at times very sad and poignant.

[kenjari.livejournal.com]

It's very good. But then again, it ought to be. This is the book that beat out Atonement for the Booker Prize.