Cirrus@Austlit

'This is the story of Marcus Merlin, the Cattle King, pitiably weak where women were concerned, but strong in his passionate love for the land of his birth Australia, and particularly the cattle stations of the Far North.

'The story unfolds also the tragedy of his daughter, Michele, whose courage and ultimate triumph over self-pity is told with poignant sympathy.' (Publisher's blurb)

'The Caravan Returns is Book Three of the Caravan Series. We meet again the le Maires and Macdonalds whom all Australians have learnt to love. They are old people now, but gallantly defy old age, and live again in Paulette.

We hear once more the loved voice of the first French Paul le Maire in his grandson Paul, and when he marries Paulette, their son Guillaume brings back the tragic, vivid, little Fleur Macdonald.

It is a human story crammed with poignant memories that may bring tears to the reader, but there is also much laughter. The fine old Judge, Justin Barrington, at last comes into the family, and thus they all feel they have made up to Suzanne le Maire for her life of devotion and self-sacrifice.' (Publisher's blurb)

'Eileen Finlay has given us another family saga, though only embracing three generations. We meet people of all classes, and as is usual with her novels we find much laughter intermingled with our tears.The pioneer Blyth family are drawn from life and their fine house may be easily recognised.

'We are taken to orchard country and a cool-store tragedy and learn how an embittered, sinister man can spoil the lives of other people.

'The story of Tania Hilton, lowly born, runs through the book. She goes seeking in the wilderness for she knows not what until youth has passed her by, and she finds at last what she seeks at the age of 37.

'The amusing pictures of Gloria, Daphne, and Ma Hilton are finely drawn, and true to back-stage life and we can learn much from their worldly wisdom.

'This book is crammed with people, each forming a link in the chain of Tania's life: and as we read we feel the natural atmosphere of everyday country life as it is lived in Australia by rich and poor. The self-sacrificing devotion and loyalty of Tania Hilton to a large family rightly earned for her the peace and joy that came to her in later life, when she was no longer Crying in the Wilderness.' (Publisher's blurb)