Wanting by Richard Flanagan

The story begins in 1841 and centres on an orphaned aboriginal girl, Mathina, one of the remaining indigenous people exiled from Van Diemen’s Land (Tasmania) and living on Flinders Island under the care of George Augustus Robinson, the Chief Protector of the Aborigines.  He can’t comprehend why most of the people in his care are dying, despite adopting western dress and eating a western diet.  Sir John Franklin, the governor of Van Diemen’s Land and his wife, Lady Jane Franklin visit Flinders Island.  They are drawn to Mathina and, when Lady Franklin learns that the girl is an orphan, they decide to adopt her.  Lady Jane sees the adoption as an experiment in converting a savage.  Mathina is taken from her own people and transported to the home of the Franklins on Van Diemen’s Land.  Running in parallel is the story of Charles Dickens who meets Lady Jane several years after her time in Australia.  Sir John has been lost on an expedition in the Arctic and rumours are rife about cannibalism.  Lady Jane is determined to clear her husband’s name and seeks out Dickens to write an article.   In this way the story of Mathina, The Franklins and Dickens become entwined.  The story depicts the barbaric cruelty inflicted on the aborigines by the European settlers.  It also highlights how someone can think they’re doing the right thing, but how that can have damaging consequences that last a lifetime and beyond.  It was a disturbing and thought provoking read.  

The Narrow Road To The Deep North by Richard Flanagan

Winner of the Man Booker Prize 2014.  The story follows the life of Dorrigo Evans born in rural Tasmania to a poor family.  He goes on to become a surgeon.  The story is multi-layered, but the main topic of the book is Dorrigo’s experience as a Japanese prisoner of war in a camp on the Burma Death Railway.  Running parallel to this is Dorrigo’s affair with his uncle’s young wife, Amy.  This affair haunts him throughout his life.    At times a harrowing read, it is beautifully observed and told from different points of view.  I disliked the style of writing at first as I found it too fragmented dealing with the different strands of Dorrigo’s life in what seemed a random way.  Towards the end of the book the strands come together in an unexpected way.  I liked the way the stories of the other main characters are tied up, but not too neatly or in an overly sentimental way.   As always with books about war, it paints a grim picture of the human race and the cruelty inflicted by mankind.  It made me cry and will be a book that stays with me.