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Infamy
Taking a Deadwood meets Cormac McCarthy-style approach to recreating history, Alluvium tells the story of William Burr, former English soldier of fortune who is lured to the colony of Tasmania by Lieutenant Arthur Phillip as a bounty hunter, charged to find and capture a notorious escaped felon, Brown George Coyne, who has established a camp in the bush populated with desperates, renegade Aborigines and other escaped convicts. As Burr ventures further into the wilderness on his trail, Coyne grows increasingly mad in a Colonel Kurtz kind of way and declares himself king of the frontier, growing wealthier by the day from ambushes and raiding party forays into Hobart. With most of the armed forces concerned with clearing the land of its aboriginal population, Coyne's influence spreads and threatens to destabilise the entire colony. Coyne's men take a wounded Burr hostage, along with the wife of a corrupt army officer, and together they must try to escape the heart of darkness and warn Phillip that is colony is on the brink of anarchy.
A steamy love story, breathtaking action, cut-throat villains and corrupt and deadly officials galore, this is a brilliant and hugely enjoyable recreation of Tasmanian history by a local who is not only a terrific storyteller but also a skilled and evocative writer. It's Kate Grenville meets Cormac McCarthy in a rollicking, galloping tale that's also sensitive and faithful to history.
A steamy love story, breathtaking action, cut-throat villains and corrupt and deadly officials galore, this is a brilliant and hugely enjoyable recreation of Tasmanian history by a local who is not only a terrific storyteller but also a skilled and evocative writer. It's Kate Grenville meets Cormac McCarthy in a rollicking, galloping tale that's also sensitive and faithful to history.
352 pages, Paperback
First published October 1, 2013
2 people are currently reading
94 people want to read
About the author
Lenny Bartulin
9 books21 followersLenny Bartulin is the author of Death by the Book aka A Deadly Business (2008). His poetry and short stories have appeared in numerous publications, including HEAT, Meanjin, and New Australian Stories. His latest novel is The Black Russian.
Lenny Bartulin was born in Hobart in 1969 and lives in Sydney.
Lenny Bartulin was born in Hobart in 1969 and lives in Sydney.
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
July 16, 2024
Lenny Bartulin is fast becoming a must-read Aussie author for me. This earlier novel is more like the incredible Fortune - with the vivid, almost fantastical imagery and rollicking pace - than his most recent, The Unearthed, but I've enjoyed all three. This is an author who knows how to spin a good tale and plant images in the reader's mind that will never leave.
William Burr is lured from British Honduras (present-day Belize) to Van Diemen's Land by the promise of a generous land grant upon the successful capture of the notorious outlaw, Brown George Coyne. Coyne, who had previously escaped the hellish prison of Macquarie Harbour into the dense West Coast wilderness, and had been on a murderous, plundering rampage up and down the colony ever since, was causing more than a headache for Lieutenant Governor George Arthur as his would-be usurper. But no sooner had Burr set foot on dry land beside the River Derwent, than he witnessed a daring abduction, and was quickly in pursuit of the brigands.
From this point on, all the action takes place over just 3 days or so. It shouldn't be a great surprise to know that not everyone survives! There are all the elements you would expect of an 1830s adventure; gunfights, swordfights, a little espionage and thuggery, excellent horsemanship, lashings of rum, a spark or two of romance and skirmishes with both white and black folk. Some of it's actually quite graphic, which didn't bother me as it suited the style of the story, but some readers may find it hard to stomach.
I mentioned the imagery earlier. There are a few stunning examples in this book, but the one that most reminded me of Fortune, and that most startled me was this one:
Black Betty stood and threw the gold over his body — with no reverence, Coyne noticed, and smiled. He closed his eyes and tilted his head back and opened his arms wide to receive the glimmering. Betty’s own hands were alight with yellow and she stared at them as she reached into the sack once more and scooped up the golden dust and threw it and watched it twist through the air and fall gently like snow over Brown George Coyne’s body. He turned for her in a circle, slowly, and she dusted him completely, hair to toes. He did not stop turning and she kept reaching into the sack and throwing handfuls over him, until he was a man no more, only a glow, a shining, luminous presence, and when he was satisfied, Brown George Coyne looked himself over and said, ‘Enough.’
What happens after this scene, was simply mind-boggling.
Recommended for anyone who enjoys their historical fiction served up with more than a hint of whimsy mixed in with the realism and gore.
William Burr is lured from British Honduras (present-day Belize) to Van Diemen's Land by the promise of a generous land grant upon the successful capture of the notorious outlaw, Brown George Coyne. Coyne, who had previously escaped the hellish prison of Macquarie Harbour into the dense West Coast wilderness, and had been on a murderous, plundering rampage up and down the colony ever since, was causing more than a headache for Lieutenant Governor George Arthur as his would-be usurper. But no sooner had Burr set foot on dry land beside the River Derwent, than he witnessed a daring abduction, and was quickly in pursuit of the brigands.
From this point on, all the action takes place over just 3 days or so. It shouldn't be a great surprise to know that not everyone survives! There are all the elements you would expect of an 1830s adventure; gunfights, swordfights, a little espionage and thuggery, excellent horsemanship, lashings of rum, a spark or two of romance and skirmishes with both white and black folk. Some of it's actually quite graphic, which didn't bother me as it suited the style of the story, but some readers may find it hard to stomach.
I mentioned the imagery earlier. There are a few stunning examples in this book, but the one that most reminded me of Fortune, and that most startled me was this one:
Black Betty stood and threw the gold over his body — with no reverence, Coyne noticed, and smiled. He closed his eyes and tilted his head back and opened his arms wide to receive the glimmering. Betty’s own hands were alight with yellow and she stared at them as she reached into the sack once more and scooped up the golden dust and threw it and watched it twist through the air and fall gently like snow over Brown George Coyne’s body. He turned for her in a circle, slowly, and she dusted him completely, hair to toes. He did not stop turning and she kept reaching into the sack and throwing handfuls over him, until he was a man no more, only a glow, a shining, luminous presence, and when he was satisfied, Brown George Coyne looked himself over and said, ‘Enough.’
What happens after this scene, was simply mind-boggling.
Recommended for anyone who enjoys their historical fiction served up with more than a hint of whimsy mixed in with the realism and gore.
October 22, 2013
I received this First Edition copy of "Infamy" by Lenny Bartulin as an ARC from The Reading Room & Allen & Unwin in exchange for an honest review.
First reads, Historical fiction, Australian historical fiction, Australian outlaws, Australian Colonial history, Bushrangers, Australian Convicts, Tasmanian Colonial.
This is the first book I have read from this author and, surprisingly, what struck me most, very early into the first chapters, was that this book was clearly written by a male, and I can't ever remember making that distinction before during the course of reading. That is not a criticism in any way, merely an observation which was very apparent to me from the start, and which showed me the unfolding 'story pictures' from a very different perspective to what I am accustomed to...at times even confronting in their candidness. I was compelled to read on.
I mention this only because it was my first impression.
The story is based around some very strong male characters and is set in the penal colony of Van Diemen's Land in Colonial Tasmania, Australia in 1830.
William Burr has been enticed from his regular job of hunting down mahogany pirates in British Honduras with the promise of a very generous bounty offered by the Lieutenant Governor Arthur, who is desperate to enlist his help using his [Burr's] old friend John McQuillan, who is the chief police magistrate of Hobart Town as the go between.
The bounty has been offered for the capture of the notorious and fanatical outlaw 'Brown George Coyne' who has been hiding out somewhere in the deep and uninviting bushland of the Tasmanian wilderness with his band of equally fanatical followers, and who's whereabouts continue to confound the authorities. Coyne's criminal activities, continued evasion of the law and rumoured future plans, have given the Governor cause for much concern and so he decides that he has no choice but to enlist Burr's unique brand of talents for the speedy detection and capture of this dangerous outlaw.
The story is adventure packed from the outset with murder, mayhem and corruption playing equal parts. It is very graphic in its descriptions, often confrontingly so, and on a few occasions gave me pause to think about some of the ethical motives of our forebears, however this did not distract me from the story as a whole and fits in well with the characters and circumstances as they unfold. The author has a keen eye for descriptions and a good knack for expressing the body language of his characters.
I did enjoy this read and welcomed the refreshing change of style from others in my steadily growing "Australian Outlaw" collection. I would definitely recommend it to other book lovers.
I love these kinds of Australian Historical stories because...apart from the obvious fictitious storylines...they fairly accurately describe the surrounding country and conditions of Colonial Australia in ways that are [sadly] not commonly known to the world at large, this in turn makes these stories all the more gripping and compelling, for their very uniqueness.
I believe this gives Australian authors a bit more "street cred" as far as their knowledge base goes on storylines for colonial life, as well as the unique style of real characters such as bushrangers, convicts, convict ships with human cargo, currency lads etc.
Australian history still affords local authors a rich and, largely untapped source of material, for all manner of storylines from historical fiction to non fiction. So many real stories still waiting to be told, just dig around a family tree to discover just how recent this past is.
This would indeed make a good Australian Western, type movie.
*I also love the cover art of this paperback version ISBN 978-1-74331-611-5.
December 20, 2015
7/1 - A Tasmanian western set in 1830. This reads like historical fiction (where the main characters and/or main story is based in fact but the rest is from the author's imagination), but it's not. It's just fiction, but the way it's written makes it feel more sophisticated and genuine than I would have expected from a new writer. Except for it being Australian and on land it reminds me of Sean Thomas Russell's Under Enemy Colours, which is based, in part, on fact. I'll have to go look Mr Bartulin up and see who he is and where he's from. To be continued...
10/1 - Bartulin is indeed Australian and this isn't his first book, but it is his first historical/western - his previous books were crime novels. This isn't a run-of-the-mill fiction where the good guy survives after a near fatal battle and the bad guys gets what's coming to him, either physically or, if he doesn't die, he's shown up for what/who he really is. Don't even expect a particularly happy ending for the main characters - 1830s Tasmania (hell, the whole country) was a rough place and Bartulin doesn't gloss over the fact. Consider Deadwood or Hell on Wheels versus the 1950s westerns with Clint Eastwood, in Deadwood everyone was dirty, foul-mouthed and spent most of their time drinking, fighting or having sex and then they died (usually violently), but in a Clint Eastwood western there was some polite fisticuffs followed by a quiet drink and then he rode off into the sunset with a clean, well-dressed lady. Infamy is much more Deadwood than Clint Eastwood, and therefore much more realistic. Recommended to fans of westerns and Australians looking for realistic fiction about their own country.
10/1 - Bartulin is indeed Australian and this isn't his first book, but it is his first historical/western - his previous books were crime novels. This isn't a run-of-the-mill fiction where the good guy survives after a near fatal battle and the bad guys gets what's coming to him, either physically or, if he doesn't die, he's shown up for what/who he really is. Don't even expect a particularly happy ending for the main characters - 1830s Tasmania (hell, the whole country) was a rough place and Bartulin doesn't gloss over the fact. Consider Deadwood or Hell on Wheels versus the 1950s westerns with Clint Eastwood, in Deadwood everyone was dirty, foul-mouthed and spent most of their time drinking, fighting or having sex and then they died (usually violently), but in a Clint Eastwood western there was some polite fisticuffs followed by a quiet drink and then he rode off into the sunset with a clean, well-dressed lady. Infamy is much more Deadwood than Clint Eastwood, and therefore much more realistic. Recommended to fans of westerns and Australians looking for realistic fiction about their own country.
April 26, 2019
It’s hard to fathom that this fast paced and gripping tail of woe takes place during the course of only three days. Packed full with characters, each with such a unique identity, brought to life quickly and authenticity through the authors magic touch. A string of moments in each of the characters lives brings the story to fruition in a collage of courage, violence and manipulation, where each moment of chance changes the destiny for all.
October 28, 2013
‘Pulling the machete would only increase the length of his life so he could live with the knowledge of his certain death a little longer.’
In the prologue to ‘Infamy’, William Burr is wounded while hunting mahogany thieves in British Honduras. While recuperating, he receives a letter from his former employer, John McQuillan, who is now the chief magistrate of Hobart Town in Van Diemen’s Land. In this letter, Burr is invited to earn a reward:
‘ … One thousand acres of prime grazing pasture on the Coal River, Van Diemen's Land, if you want it. Reward from our old friend Lieutenant Governor Arthur (Colonel Holier Than Thou), who appears thwarted in his ability to capture an escaped felon.'
The escaped felon is Brown George Coyne, who has offered 20 gallons of rum for George Arthur’s arrest.
It is summer in 1830 when William Burr arrives in Hobart Town, Van Diemen’s Land (now Hobart, Tasmania). This is the era of bloodshed, bushrangers and convicts, and of dispossession of the Aborigines as a consequence of pastoral expansion. It’s a place in which the European settlers try hard to replicate their memories of ‘Home’.
There are a number of key characters in this novel in addition to William Burr. Colonel Arthur himself has a significant role, as does the larger than life Brown George Coyne who lives with his followers in the mountains to the southwest. Coyne has discovered gold and with it considerable power. Other characters include police magistrate Stephen Vaughan and his wife Ellen, the ‘ship trader’ Charles Trentham, a mainland Aborigine – Robert Ringa - who they wanted to use to track down men for hanging, and Tilly Holt who works in Government House.
Just after Burr arrives, Ellen Vaughan is kidnapped, and he sets out to rescue her. The story unfolds over a few days, and Burr’s adventures are only part of the story. There is rebellion in Hobart Town, and plenty of violence as bushrangers, convicts, officials and settlers jostle for power.
Will William Burr be able to rescue Ellen Vaughan, and what will happen to Brown George Coyne? And the Aborigines? What is justice in this place?
I found it hard to put this novel down. ‘Infamy’ incorporates history into a fast-paced and riveting fictional colonial crime story. It is bushranger Matthew Brady (1799-1826) who posted a reward of 20 gallons of rum for Colonel Arthur, and references to the Black Line (1830) are a reminder of the shameful treatment of Tasmanian Aborigines. There are a significant number of characters representing different strata of colonial society and this could be confusing, but it isn’t. Each character has a part to play, and each part fits into Mr Bartulin’s portrayal of colonial Van Diemen’s Land. It’s a bloodthirsty world, but the violence never seems gratuitous. Sometimes tragic, often uncomfortable but not gratuitous.
‘The inevitable needs no map ...’
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
In the prologue to ‘Infamy’, William Burr is wounded while hunting mahogany thieves in British Honduras. While recuperating, he receives a letter from his former employer, John McQuillan, who is now the chief magistrate of Hobart Town in Van Diemen’s Land. In this letter, Burr is invited to earn a reward:
‘ … One thousand acres of prime grazing pasture on the Coal River, Van Diemen's Land, if you want it. Reward from our old friend Lieutenant Governor Arthur (Colonel Holier Than Thou), who appears thwarted in his ability to capture an escaped felon.'
The escaped felon is Brown George Coyne, who has offered 20 gallons of rum for George Arthur’s arrest.
It is summer in 1830 when William Burr arrives in Hobart Town, Van Diemen’s Land (now Hobart, Tasmania). This is the era of bloodshed, bushrangers and convicts, and of dispossession of the Aborigines as a consequence of pastoral expansion. It’s a place in which the European settlers try hard to replicate their memories of ‘Home’.
There are a number of key characters in this novel in addition to William Burr. Colonel Arthur himself has a significant role, as does the larger than life Brown George Coyne who lives with his followers in the mountains to the southwest. Coyne has discovered gold and with it considerable power. Other characters include police magistrate Stephen Vaughan and his wife Ellen, the ‘ship trader’ Charles Trentham, a mainland Aborigine – Robert Ringa - who they wanted to use to track down men for hanging, and Tilly Holt who works in Government House.
Just after Burr arrives, Ellen Vaughan is kidnapped, and he sets out to rescue her. The story unfolds over a few days, and Burr’s adventures are only part of the story. There is rebellion in Hobart Town, and plenty of violence as bushrangers, convicts, officials and settlers jostle for power.
Will William Burr be able to rescue Ellen Vaughan, and what will happen to Brown George Coyne? And the Aborigines? What is justice in this place?
I found it hard to put this novel down. ‘Infamy’ incorporates history into a fast-paced and riveting fictional colonial crime story. It is bushranger Matthew Brady (1799-1826) who posted a reward of 20 gallons of rum for Colonel Arthur, and references to the Black Line (1830) are a reminder of the shameful treatment of Tasmanian Aborigines. There are a significant number of characters representing different strata of colonial society and this could be confusing, but it isn’t. Each character has a part to play, and each part fits into Mr Bartulin’s portrayal of colonial Van Diemen’s Land. It’s a bloodthirsty world, but the violence never seems gratuitous. Sometimes tragic, often uncomfortable but not gratuitous.
‘The inevitable needs no map ...’
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
February 6, 2021
Set in 1830 Van Diemen’s Land, this is an engaging novel that has its moments although maybe it has a little too much packed in. William Burr is summoned by Governor Arthur from Honduras to track escaped convict, Brown George Coyne, who is building an empire in the Bush with the wild aim of overthrowing Arthur. Ellen Vaughan, wife of a dissolute and violent police magistrate, and a mainland aborigine are amongst several intriguing characters as what is really quite a violent adventure story comes to an inevitable end
July 18, 2014
More like 3.5 stars. Not bad, but not great. Jumps around between all the different storylines a bit too much. However, even with all those storylines it isn't ultimately quite the epic tale it seems to be trying to be.
December 25, 2018
I shouldn't be surprised that a story about Van Dieman's land is brutal. It's brutal. There's sympathetic characters and one or two of them make it to the end of the book but along the way there's cleaved skulls, cannibalism, ignorance, grasping fools, and lots of bloodshed; and that's without specifically mentioning the atrocities carried out on the aboriginal population.
It did make me go and look up about the discovery of gold in Tasmania.
There are concurrent and sometimes connected storylines running through the book. Sometimes I had trouble remembering who this or that specific character was, and sometimes that was because they were just being introduced.. If you want to spend some time with people that nobody wants to spend time with then go ahead but it can be grueling.
It did make me go and look up about the discovery of gold in Tasmania.
There are concurrent and sometimes connected storylines running through the book. Sometimes I had trouble remembering who this or that specific character was, and sometimes that was because they were just being introduced.. If you want to spend some time with people that nobody wants to spend time with then go ahead but it can be grueling.
August 31, 2020
One of the best stories of this genre that I've happened across in a while! The story is totally engaging, the characters have depth & interest, & the setting is at once beautiful as it is frighteningly real. Highly recommended if you like "blokey" historical fiction & don't mind a bit of violence & betrayal.
September 18, 2021
Vivid picture of Tasmania in its early colony years.
January 7, 2014
This time it wasn’t the blurb or the cover which grabbed my attention but the author. I’ve read and enjoyed his previous works which were very different from this altogether. The Jack Susko books were mysteries set in Sydney which had a slight noir atmosphere but modern setting. Infamy is historical fiction set in the early settlement days of Australia, specifically in Van Diemen’s Land (Tasmania). Being an immigrant myself, this kind of story (particularly in Australia) appeals to me.
The blurb of this book compares author & this work to other authors & works of which I am unfamiliar with. Unfortunately, this is a point which I can neither support nor disagree with. ‘A Steamy love story’, however, it is not. Well, at least not what I think of what ‘a steamy love story’ is supposed to be. There was attraction at first sight type of thing, a damsel in distress and a hero to rescue but there wasn’t really any sparks that you’d expect from a romance.
The book follows quite a number of characters which encompassed practically all strata of society and from which we can appreciate the story from all different point of views. We can see the story unfolds from the top ruling class to the convicts and the outcasts. The numerous lines of story could have been annoying but the flawless execution of switches between characters made the read smoothly chronological.
One thing that I dislike about historical fiction is how hard life was then and at times, how totally unfair. Whilst Infamy does not shy away from the hard stuff, it also wasn’t that graphic (at this point, I’m referring to violence against women & natives). Let’s just say, things could have been a lot worse but the ending was not in any way distressing as I’d expect from this kind of novel.
Quotes of interest:
‘To be,’ Coyne had said, ‘one must become.’
~the words of a madman
Wells dropped the back of his head to the ground now, lay there and draped an arm over his eyes, felt the cold earth come up into his body. Where the hell was he? Fucking a boy beneath these stars, drunk in this place that he still couldn’t believe was real, drunk and undoubtedly about to die. He remembered once being among kindnesses, some distant and by now frayed and faded love, though he’d never been sure it was his own memory to begin with. More likely it was something pilfered; there was nothing Marcus Wells had ever had in his life that wasn’t already somebody else’s first. Maybe he’d looked into a window from the street somewhere back in England, cold and hungry like he was, seen a fire glowing and a mother sewing, children at her feet and a father dozing in a chair beside. Took it as his own. Did it matter? Could anybody have begrudged him the thieving? Well, he supposed it didn’t matter anymore now. And they had, by God. Begrudged him.
~just utterly hopeless
Thanks to Allen & Unwin via The Reading Room for copy of book
The blurb of this book compares author & this work to other authors & works of which I am unfamiliar with. Unfortunately, this is a point which I can neither support nor disagree with. ‘A Steamy love story’, however, it is not. Well, at least not what I think of what ‘a steamy love story’ is supposed to be. There was attraction at first sight type of thing, a damsel in distress and a hero to rescue but there wasn’t really any sparks that you’d expect from a romance.
The book follows quite a number of characters which encompassed practically all strata of society and from which we can appreciate the story from all different point of views. We can see the story unfolds from the top ruling class to the convicts and the outcasts. The numerous lines of story could have been annoying but the flawless execution of switches between characters made the read smoothly chronological.
One thing that I dislike about historical fiction is how hard life was then and at times, how totally unfair. Whilst Infamy does not shy away from the hard stuff, it also wasn’t that graphic (at this point, I’m referring to violence against women & natives). Let’s just say, things could have been a lot worse but the ending was not in any way distressing as I’d expect from this kind of novel.
Quotes of interest:
‘To be,’ Coyne had said, ‘one must become.’
~the words of a madman
Wells dropped the back of his head to the ground now, lay there and draped an arm over his eyes, felt the cold earth come up into his body. Where the hell was he? Fucking a boy beneath these stars, drunk in this place that he still couldn’t believe was real, drunk and undoubtedly about to die. He remembered once being among kindnesses, some distant and by now frayed and faded love, though he’d never been sure it was his own memory to begin with. More likely it was something pilfered; there was nothing Marcus Wells had ever had in his life that wasn’t already somebody else’s first. Maybe he’d looked into a window from the street somewhere back in England, cold and hungry like he was, seen a fire glowing and a mother sewing, children at her feet and a father dozing in a chair beside. Took it as his own. Did it matter? Could anybody have begrudged him the thieving? Well, he supposed it didn’t matter anymore now. And they had, by God. Begrudged him.
~just utterly hopeless
Thanks to Allen & Unwin via The Reading Room for copy of book
February 27, 2014
Thoroughly entertaining romp through the wilds of the early Hobart settlement with the requisite cast of scumbags, reprobates, opportunists and good men lost in moral quagmires. Bartulin has a deft touch with character and inner voice and imbues even the over-the-top cartoon figure of the book's nominal bad guy, Brown George Coyne, with believable and understandable motives. But nobody really comes out of this novel looking rosy: even those who attempt to tread the moral path, such as the main protagonists Burr and McQuillan, do so from blatant self-interest or opportunism, and as their various sub-plots merge and collide the waters only grow increasingly murky, until thye reader is swept along by the sheer volume of viccisitude. This is adventure writing with just enough historical accuracy to give the book thew whiff of verisimilitide: good, clean dirty fun, and all the more welcome for it.
November 25, 2014
Does anyone read Westerns anymore? It seems like a genre which has fallen entirely out of favour, crowded out by romance, paranormal romance, big fat fantasy and who-knows-what-all-else. Anyway, this is a literary western, I guess, and I would like to compare it to other westerns and yet I can't think of any (other than on TV: Deadwood and Justified). So: I like the idea of writing something of this style, I like the setting and theme (Tasmania in convict times, bringing in the island's famous cannibal convict and the Black War). The language is good, creates a strong flavour of place and time. But I felt like the characters really let it down. First, there were way too many of them, way too many little stories chipping away at my attention and absorption. And while there were many of them, most of them were quite a lot like one another. I'd have loved this book to have gone on a bit longer and jumped about a whole lot less so I could have become gripped, rather than just teased.
March 24, 2016
William Burr comes to Van Diemen’s Land in 1830 to help to track down an escaped convict. He goes looking for a woman who has been kidnapped where of course they find each other and love.
A bit like an American western at times, Bartulin hands us a picture of the morals of the fledging colony just before Lt Gov Arthur started the black line.
Arthur is depicted as a tough character trying to do his job while surrounded by corrupt and drunken officials.
The escaped convict is planning a rebellion and a shady entrepreneur is trying to find him. Lots of violence, drunkenness and a large cast of characters.
The story which would flow better if some of the flash backs were removed. But a good historical novel for a period in Australia’s history where few such novels exist.
A bit like an American western at times, Bartulin hands us a picture of the morals of the fledging colony just before Lt Gov Arthur started the black line.
Arthur is depicted as a tough character trying to do his job while surrounded by corrupt and drunken officials.
The escaped convict is planning a rebellion and a shady entrepreneur is trying to find him. Lots of violence, drunkenness and a large cast of characters.
The story which would flow better if some of the flash backs were removed. But a good historical novel for a period in Australia’s history where few such novels exist.
November 10, 2013
This book is just excellent, a cracking adventure laced with humour, violence and political comment, as well as larger than life heroes and villains from 1830s Van Diemen’s Land. The author manages to combine historical facts with fiction to paint a vivid picture of life in a brutal penal colony at the ass-end of the world, struggling to "civilise" itself and the inhabitants of old Hobart Town.
Just a great read, and perfect for the holidays. Buy it as a present for any Tasmanian you know, as they will love it.
Just a great read, and perfect for the holidays. Buy it as a present for any Tasmanian you know, as they will love it.
January 13, 2014
Infamy is a good old fashioned adventure story, set in colonial Tasmania, with action, betrayal, crime, good and bad guys, all wrapped around the story of a kidnapping and the search for the "bad guy" who did it. A brilliant plot, great language and an array of colourful characters had me hooked early and pleased that because I was on holiday I had time for reading. Highly recommended as a good quality and sophisticated adventure read.
December 9, 2013
Why is this book not a best seller? why is Lenny Bartulin not a household name? I came across it by accident and couldn't put it down. I felt like colonial Tasmania came alive, warts and all. After reading this book I went back into the history of Van Die man's Land and found that all I presumed was wrong.... that place was more treacherous than I thought. I hope that this is on an Australian literature reading list one day. it's such a pleasure to stumble on something fantastic.
December 12, 2013
Enjoyed this but thought there were a few too many characters, some which seemed unnecessary, which made the book a bit confusing at times. Some characters seemed to be introduced just so they could get killed off. Still, very enjoyable and a great sense of time and place. Wouldn't have wanted to be an early Tasmanian!
December 4, 2015
Liked this a lot. Partly because of its historical relevance to where I live, but also because of its physicality. I could almost smell the dirt of early Hobart. The ruthlessness of the chararacters was disturbing, but felt real.
February 13, 2016
The more I read about early Tasmanian settler history, the more I think my Irish ancestors were nuts for wanting to settle there. This book covers some of the brutality and corruption that was present, as well as the absolutely dreadful treatment of the Aborigines.
November 13, 2013
A boys own adventure book for adults. A terrific read, worth 4 1/2 stars.
January 14, 2014
A rollicking Australian adventure. Pioneer times and all that. Written with true sincerity. I could certainly see this as a movie.
January 7, 2015
good fund and interesting story. Will look for the authors next work
April 18, 2014
Great read, the brutal history of Van Dieman's Land lends itself to this type if story.
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