| About to emigrate from famine-scarred Ireland to colonial New South Wales, labourer John Leary stumbles upon a man assaulting his widowed sister Maureen. The man William Baxterhouse escapes and bribes his way on the first ship to New South Wales. John is soon in hot pursuit.
The four month sea voyage to the antipodes brings a new maturity to John and fans his desire for revenge. He meets a young woman of breeding named Clarissa, and is soon dreaming of a shared life. He starts his new life in NSW as a humble carpenter's assistant, but his ambitions burgeon in keeping with the raw growth of the gold-mad colony.
New friendships with Beth, a hotel worker, and Sean, an alcoholic carpenter temper John's plans. Baxterhouse, an accomplished criminal, grows rich while John courts Clarissa.
Matters come to an exciting head as John?s schemes begin to take effect and Baxterhouse learns he may soon face a terrible reckoning for his crimes.
Read more about the author “Michael Beashel”
|
