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The Sooterkin

By Tom Gilling
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Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
The Sooterkin by Tom Gilling is set in early 19th-century Hobart Town, where a strange creature purportedly born to a settler woman draws the attention of the community. Against this backdrop, the novel explores themes of superstition, human curiosity, and the complexity of small-town dynamics in colonial Australia, creating a satirical and engaging historical narrative.
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Format: Paperback / softback
$2900
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

You might enjoy this book if you’re fascinated by tales set in the 19th century, woven with intrigue and mystery. It combines historical elements with a touch of dark humour and offers a unique exploration of colonial life in Australia. If you like character-driven narratives that question reality and truth, this book may appeal to you.

Book Hero thinking about your next read

Few people have ever laid eyes on a sooterkin, but in the winter of 1821 Sarah Dyer gives birth to the strangest infant ever seen in Van Dieman's land. It is a creature more seal than human, and all Hobart town knows something extraordinary has happened. Funny and mesmerising, this is a compelling novel.

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

On a squally afternoon in the winter of 1821, Sarah Dyer gives birth to the strangest child ever seen in Van Diemen's Land, a thing more seal than human. The Reverend Mr Kidney at first suspects a virgin birth. Mr Sculley, an anatomist and man of science, hails it as the antipodean answer to the elusive Dutch sooterkin.

The pup is a joy to its parents and a welcome companion to their nine-year-old son, Ned. But when a well-dressed stranger arrives bearing a modest proposal for the infant's future, no-one foresees the trouble that lies ahead.

The Sooterkin is a vividly imagined and wickedly funny tale of an upside-down world turned inside out.

Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781876485023

Publisher: Text Publishing

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 01 April 1999

Country: Australia

Imprint: The Text Publishing Company

Audience: Tertiary education

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 17.0mm

Width: 136.0mm

Height: 213.0mm

Weight: 254g

Pages: 224

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Fiction General Fiction Historical Fiction Penguin Books Tom Gilling

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