The Lieutenant by Kate Grenville
Review by Jennifer, Southport Branch
If you want a compelling read about human relationships and communication coupled with a slice of Australian history, this book is for you! While it is historical fiction, Grenville delves deeply into the life of the maincharacter, Captain Rooke, as he grapples with social acceptance and understanding among the Aboriginal people. We experience the isolation of the first Australian settlement and the moral dilemmas associated with life in this barren place, Sydney Cove.
Inspired by the First Fleet notebooks of William Dawes, The Lieutenant explores the gap between two worlds and how shared meaning is developed in an effort to understand each other’s culture.
I was immediately absorbed by this novel’s plot. Grenville’s skill with imagery and storytelling is outstanding while her delicate interpretation of the past is beautifully constructed. It is an uplifting narrative, right to the end.
