'It is 1788 and Captain Arthur Phillip faces a daunting task. He must conquer an unforgiving land, halt the starvation of his unruly charges and appease the natives even as he wreaks havoc on their soil. In this fictional account of Australia's first Governor, Margaret Hickey weaves together the portrait of a humane figure bound by duty. Laced with references to Coleridge, this stunning tale of hardship and thwarted love amongst the towering gums of Sydney Harbour, will leave readers debating the issue of how we choose to celebrate our early explorers.' (Publisher's abstract)
