Benevolence

The gut-truths presented in Benevolence are tied to a larger reckoning needed in Australian society—one that involves a centring of First Nation voices, a willingness to address not just a violent history, but a hostile and violent present. Mascara Literary Review

At the time of its original release in 2020, Benevolence was celebrated as a refreshing response to colonial narratives of the frontier. A welcome new take on Australian historical fiction, Darug writer Julie Janson's storytelling through the lives of her women ancestors continues to provoke conversations about the ways we, as a nation, reckon with the colonial past. For perhaps the first time in novel form, Benevolence presented the early colonial period in New South Wales from an Aboriginal perspective.

Darug woman Muraging (Mary James), born around 1813, is part of one of the earliest Darug generations to experience the impact of British colonisation. At an early age, Muraging is given over to the Parramatta Native School by her Darug father. From here she embarks on a journey of discovery and a search for a safe place to make her home. The novel spans the years 1816-35 and is set around the Hawkesbury River area, the home of the Darug people, Parramatta and Sydney. The author interweaves historical events and characters, shattering stereotypes and putting a human face to this Aboriginal perspective.

This reformatted edition, following the 2024 release of its sequel Compassion, brings new life and a new look to Benevolence.