True History of the Kelly Gang

Dates Covered: 1854 - 1880
ISBN: 0375410848
HH Rating:

Our Take

"What is it about Australians, eh?" he demanded. "What is wrong with us? Do we not have a Jefferson? A Disraeli? Might not we find someone better to admire than a horse-thief and a murderer?"

This is a very interesting novel by Booker Prize winner Peter Carey (author of Bliss, Oscar and Lucinda, Jack Maggs and a host of other novels), based on the life of notorious Australian bush ranger Ned Kelly. It's a rollicking good tale of an interesting folkloric character, set in the 1800s in Victoria.

Ned Kelly is the most famous criminal in Australian history; generally portrayed as a kind of southern-hemisphere equivalent of Robin Hood, if you believe the myth. His short career ended when, clad in home forged armour, he engaged in a shootout with the police. It is this image of Kelly, guns blazing, helmeted like a gladiator, going down in a hail of bullets that still lives in the Australian psyche.

This book is a sympathetic tale of Kelly's life, presumably written in his own hand, recorded for a newly born (and apocryphal) daughter that he's never seen. It is a story rich in intriguing sub-plots, which lurk in the peripheral of the narrative. Divided into 'parcels' of pages, each retelling a significant era in his life, we trace the rise and fall of this remarkable character, from early childhood, through his apprenticeship to the infamous criminal, Harry Power (at the request of his mother), to his final dramatic stand against the police at Glenrowan in north-eastern Victoria. Which, it's worth adding, is now home to possibly the worst animatronic historical display in the world.

Interestingly, there's been no backlash of this work as there was, say, when Natural Born Killers was released, and yet the book does indeed glorify Kelly -- horse thief and murderer. Carey's vision of Kelly is that of a misunderstood battler, born into abject poverty, turned to thief then killer by circumstances beyond his control. He is portrayed as a loyal, brave and popular man, supported by the communities he robbed, even though historically, this is highly unlikely. It's the legend made literary, an action packed tale of murder, shoot-outs, love and desperation, as the protagonist lives by hits wits on the run from the cops. He loves his mother, mistrusts authority and knows more about survival in the bush than the crocodile hunter.

It is meticulously researched and stylishly written (but if you're fond of punctuation, you might find this one a bit trying). The tone is intimate, told in the first person, the language colloquial, and while Australians will instantly recognise the vernacular, it is, without doubt, a book written for mass appeal. This is very apparent -- however, although this book has mini-series written all over it, it is without doubt a fine read.

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