A Great Act of Love (Heather Rose, A&U)

Heather Rose’s A Great Act of Love follows Caroline, an upper class widow who leaves London in the late 1830s to undertake a long and dangerous journey to Van Diemen’s Land. With no family or connections, she sets out to begin again at the end of the earth. She purchases land, finds work as a governess and throws herself into reviving a vineyard, but as ghosts from her past begin to surface, it becomes clear she may not be who she claims to be. A Great Act of Love is a beautiful example of reclaiming women’s stories from history, highlighting their strength, influence and ingenuity. The novel spans the final violent days of the French Revolution to the beginnings of Australia’s invasion and colonisation: depicting the horrific treatment of convicts and First Nations peoples. Chapters alternate between characters, slowly revealing backstories, motivations and historical insights. While the story is rich in detail and atmosphere, the final chapters wrap up too quickly, which may leave some readers wanting a more measured ending. Still, Rose’s ability to maintain a compelling, character-driven story within a complex historical setting is a clear strength, as is her exploration of father-daughter relationships, women’s roles in the workplace and positions of power. Recommended for readers who enjoy historical fiction, Rose’s Bruny and Nothing Bad Ever Happens Here, or historical nonfiction including Mary Hoban’s An Unconventional Wife and Clare Wright’s work.

Books+Publishing reviewer: Danielle Bagnato is a book reviewer and marketing and communications professional. Books+Publishing is Australia’s number-one source of pre-publication book reviews.

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