Reviewed by Wendy Lipke
For many older readers the name, Judy Nunn, will bring back memories of TV shows such as The Box, Sons and Daughters and Home and Away. Since those days Judy Nunn has become a prolific writer of historically based novels which foreground strong women. She was awarded the Order of Australia in 2015 in recognition of her achievements. In her latest novel, Pilbara, she takes her readers back to the 1800s and the early opening up of Australia to adventurers from across the globe.
The story begins with the arrival of Charles Burton and his three small children to the Port of Albany on the underside of the Australian map. The year is 1888 where Charles is to meet his uncle before travelling to the property in the Pilbara. However, the uncle is not there when they arrive, and they soon learn that they will have to travel to their destination on their own.
The story that follows is divided into three parts. The first setting is Yorkshire, England and the year is 1874. William Edward Burton is the 34th Squire of Pendleton in West Yorkshire. He lives with his young daughter Charlotte and as a responsible man, conscious of his position in life and intensely proud in his heritage, he has passed all these characteristics on to his young daughter.
His younger brother had gone to Australia to find his own future and ended up in the Pilbara which at the time was considered the real frontier in Australia or the ‘Godforsaken Wilderness’ (21). At the time this was a lawless, violent place where treachery was a way of life. It was a place where new arrivals fought for the riches on offer, whether they be land, pearls or gold. Parts two and three of the book are set in the Pilbara with a return to Yorkshire at the latter part of the book. The Epilogue is set in Yorkshire 1903.
The characterisation is strong for all main players with a touch of mystery surrounding most of them, whether it be concerning the name they currently go by or parts of their personal history. The storyline is foremost, but the landscape also plays a large part in the story. The author has presented her information through descriptive text, dialogue and letters going back and forth between the two locations. These are presented in italics.
This 496-page epic is a tale of hardship, danger, strong family connections and keeping up appearances. Embracing the hardship of such an untamed land and the dangers for its inhabitants, the story is predominantly about humanity, a strong family bond, loyalty and doing what is believed to be right. Yet in parts it can be very raw. Honour and justice are two major themes throughout, whether in the Pilbara or back in Yorkshire.
Many events occurred in the Pilbara which took time to heal, but the area also allowed that to happen. The role of women and how the different genders were perceived and treated at that time in history, is evident throughout this novel.
I thoroughly enjoyed the book.
Pilbara
(2025)
by Judy Nunn
Harper Collins
ISBN:978-1-4607-6847-1
$34.99; 496pp