True History of the Kelly Gang
by Peter Carey
There was general agreement that the book is not easy to read.
To some the curious style of the narrative with its atrocious punctuation and curious usages (“adjectival”) conveying the voice of Kelly was a major barrier to sympathy and emotional involvement;
others were immediately drawn in and involved in this poignant tale of a young boy dragged along by events beyond his control whilst still maintaining a moral perspective.
The image of Kelly looms large in Australian folklore and it would seem that the book represents a fairly accurate account of his life and times recalling desperate days and a very much hand-to-mouth existence.
NS October 2007
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