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.
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