The Chant of Jimmie Blacksmith: A NovelA tormented and humiliated mixed-race Australian man reaches his breaking point and takes terrifying revenge on his abusers in this critically acclaimed novel based on actual events In Australia at the turn of the twentieth century, Jimmie Blacksmith is desperate to figure out where he belongs. Half-Anglo and half-Aboriginal, he feels out of place in both cultures. Schooled in the ways of white society by a Protestant missionary, Jimmie forsakes tribal customs, adopts the white man’s religion, marries a white woman, and seeks a life of honest labor in a world Aborigines are normally barred from entering. But he will always be seen as less than human by the employers who cheat and exploit him, the fellow workers who deride him, and the wife who betrays him—and a man can only take so much. Driven by hopelessness, rage, and despair, Jimmie commits a series of savage and terrible acts of vengeance and becomes something he never thought he’d be: a murderer, a fugitive, and, ultimately, a legend. Based on shocking real-life events, The Chant of Jimmie Blacksmith is a powerful tale of racism, identity, intolerance, and murder from the celebrated bestselling author of Schindler’s List, Thomas Keneally. This magnificent historical novel remains a stunning, provocative, and profoundly affecting reading experience. |
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aborigine ain't asked Australian baby bastard began Blacksmith brothers blankets bloody BOOKER PRIZE boss Brentwood bugger called camp chant child cook corner Cowra door Dowie Stead Dubbo Dulcie Emu-Wren enteric fever eyes face farmers Farrell Farrell's fence forest fuckin Gilda Gilgandra goin Graf's Gulargambone hand hang Harry Edwards Healy Healy's homestead horse Hyberry Jackie Smolders Jacko Jimmie Blacksmith Jimmie felt Jimmie hoped Jimmie's kill kitchen knew Knoller laughed look married McCreadie Merriwa miles Miss Graf missus morning Mort Mort's mouth Mullett Mungara Mungindi murder Muswellbrook Neville Newby boys Newby's night Orright perhaps police poor rifle river Schindler's List seemed Senior Constable sleep someone sort Sydney Tabidgi tell things THOMAS KENEALLY thought throat Toban told took town Treloar tribal Tullam Verona waited Wallah wife woman women Wongee Yair Yer kin yer know yerself