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Brief Description
It is a harsh land - yes, for you especially - but people can also rise here ... Born into poverty in eighteenth-century England, her future was predetermined. But throughout her life, Molly Thistle refused to follow the path laid out before her. Her headstrong nature,... Read More
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From horse thief to the merchant queen of Sydney Cove - how did one woman rise so far?

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It is a harsh land - yes, for you especially - but people can also rise here ...

Born into poverty in eighteenth-century England, her future was predetermined. But throughout her life, Molly Thistle refused to follow the path laid out before her. Her headstrong nature, disdain for convention, and desire for freedom were always destined to determine her fate.

Following her involvement in a fatal childhood prank, Molly dresses as a boy and flees on a stolen horse. Her newfound freedom ends with her arrest and an uncertain journey towards Britain's farthest prison colony.

Undaunted, Molly navigates her way through a society that denies power to her sex and scorns those who have not 'arrived free'. Her quick wit, resilience, and ambition will attract the love of her life and the opportunity to forge a commercial empire. And those very same characteristics will create enemies intent on destroying all that she has battled to build for herself and her family.

Inspired by historical figures and actual events, Free shines a light on the indomitable figure who first made her appearance in The Wreck. In a story told with warmth and compassion for those who struggled, survived, and sometimes even prevailed - and for those who did not - Meg Keneally once again brings the complexity and brutality of colonial Australia vividly to life.

Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781760686840

Publisher: Allen & Unwin

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 30 April 2024

Country: Australia

Imprint: Echo Publishing

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Width: 153.0mm

Height: 234.0mm

Weight: 415g

Pages: 336

About the Author

Meg Keneally has worked as a journalist, corporate affairs professional and SCUBA diving instructor.

She is co-author with Tom Keneally of The Soldier's Curse and three other books in the Monsarrat series. Her first solo novel was Fled, published by Echo Publishing in 2019, followed by The Wreck (2020). With Leah Kaminsky, she is co-editor of Animals Make Us Human (2020).

Meg lives in Sydney.



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