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While some readers find the dialogue occasionally modern or the depiction of early colonial life sanitized, the book is widely praised for its historical detail and engaging pace. It sets the stage for a multi-generational saga, following the Bradbury family’s influence through subsequent volumes like Eye For An Eye and A Colony Divided . To find a legitimate copy of the book:
The plot centers on Second Lieutenant Daniel Bradbury of the New South Wales Marine Corps and a female convict who initially identifies as Mary Murphy. Their relationship begins during the arduous eight-month voyage from England aboard the Lady Penrhyn , where Daniel intervenes to protect Mary from bullying. This initial act of chivalry evolves into a deeper bond as they face the harsh realities of the Australian wilderness, including an unforgiving climate, the threat of conflict with the Indigenous population, and the rigid social hierarchies imported from England. While some readers find the dialogue occasionally modern
A Far Distant Land by David Field is the first installment in The Australian Historical Saga Series , chronicling the birth of a new nation from the perspective of both those who chose to be there and those who did not. Set in 1788, the narrative follows the arrival of the First Fleet at Port Jackson, a momentous event that serves as the backdrop for a story of resilience, deception, and unlikely connection. Set in 1788, the narrative follows the arrival
Field explores the tension between past and present, as Mary’s true identity—Martha Mallett—threatens the stability of her new life with Daniel. The novel weaves historical figures like Bennelong into the fictional narrative, providing a grounded look at the early interactions between the British settlers and the Eora people. Themes of class struggle and the transformation of a penal colony into a burgeoning society are central, as Martha eventually rises from the status of a petty criminal to a respected member of colonial society. Set in 1788