"HERITAGE"

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22094, 27 April 1935, Page 9 (Supplement)

"HERITAGE"

PIONEERING IN AUSTRALIA One of the outstanding novels of Australia is " Heritage," which comes from the pen of Mr. Charles Chauvel. It tells the story of Biddy O'Shea, an orphan, who came out to Sydney in the early days on the " wife ship " to marry one of the manjy for whom there were not enough women to be found. Her dread of being claimed by someone whom Bhe might hate or fear was allayed almost immediately upon her arrival by meeting James Morrison, a teamster, who was already engaged to be inarriod to an up-country girl.

However, his sudden attraction for Biddy decides him in breaking off his engagement, and, after leaving her in safety with Mother Carey, he departs inland with the waggons and the promise of return. Biddy is broken hearted, and is found by John Parry weeping on the roadside as her lover's team fades in the distance. JParry proves a faithful friend, hiding his emotion when Biddy praises her absent lover; but when news comes that Morrison has broken faith and married the mountain girl she consents to a loveless marriage with Parry, who has been a convict, but is a true and loyal man.

They soon journey inland by bullock waggon to found the house of Parry. The sitvage hostility of the blacks, the fierce sufferings caused by drought and bush fires and the pangs of childbirth alone in the wilderness —all are described with realistic strokes; and the final wiping out of the Parry family comes as a tragic shock to the reader.

.Interest now centres round the Morrisons, who follow all unconsciously the steps of the Parrys into the wilderness, and who adopt and care for Biddy's baby, the sole survivor of the pioneer family's brave endeavour. Mingled with an absorbing plot are many passages on the growth and expansion of Australia in the early days; but the author makes a mistake by carrying his story i forward into the present generation, for which his canvas is not large enough, and from which the book, as a whole, suffers' by the introduction of modern incongruities. Not the least engaging passages of the story are provided by the inimitable humour of Long and Short, who accompany the Morrisons into the interior and whose conversation provides many a laugh. On the whole, Mr. ChauveHs to be congratulated on a very worth-while story which mirrors the life of early Australia; but to which the illustrations taken from the film version do not provide a welcome addition. " Heritage," by Charles Chauvel. (Angus and Eobertson.)