The Roving Party

Rohan Wilson

ISBN 10: 1742376533 / ISBN 13: 9781742376530

Published by Allen & Unwin Australia, 2011

About this Item

Raw and hauntingly beautiful, a vivid reimagining of John Batman's infamous roving party that set out to hunt and kill the Aborigines of Tasmania. Winner of the 2011 Australian/Vogel's award. 1829, Tasmania. John Batman, ruthless, singleminded; four convicts, the youngest still only a stripling; Gould, a downtrodden farmhand; two free black trackers; and powerful, educated Black Bill, brought up from childhood as a white man. This is the roving party and their purpose is massacre. With promises of freedom, land grants and money, each is willing to risk his life for the prize. Passing over many miles of tortured country, the roving party searches for Aborigines, taking few prisoners and killing freely, Batman never abandoning the visceral intensity of his hunt. And all the while, Black Bill pursues his personal quarry, the much-feared warrior, Manalargena. A surprisingly beautiful evocation of horror and brutality, THE ROVING PARTY is a meditation on the intricacies of human nature at its most raw. 290 pages.

Seller Inventory # 1119264

Bibliographic Details

• Title: The Roving Party
• Publisher: Allen & Unwin Australia
• Publication Date: 2011
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1742376533
• ISBN 13: 9781742376530
• Binding: Paperback
• Condition: Good
• Weight: 600 grams
• Seller catalogs:
  • General

About this title

Synopsis

1829, Tasmania. John Batman, ruthless, singleminded; four convicts, the youngest still only a stripling; Gould, a downtrodden farmhand; two free black trackers; and powerful, educated Black Bill, brought up from childhood as a white man. This is the roving party and their purpose is massacre. With promises of freedom, land grants and money, each is willing to risk his life for the prize. Passing over many miles of tortured country, the roving party searches for Aborigines, taking few prisoners and killing freely, Batman never abandoning the visceral intensity of his hunt. And all the while, Black Bill pursues his personal quarry, the much-feared warrior, Manalargena. A surprisingly beautiful evocation of horror and brutality, The Roving Party is a meditation on the intricacies of human nature at its most raw.

About the Author

Rohan Wilson lived a long, mostly lonely, life until a lucky turn of events led him to take up a teaching position in Japan where he met his wife. They have a son who loves books, as all children should. They live in Launceston but don't know why. Rohan holds degrees and diplomas from the universities of Tasmania, Southern Queensland and Melbourne. This is his first book. He can be found on Twitter: @rohan_wilson.