Perspective

Jill Ker Conway is a child of the Australian outback in the mid-twentieth century. Born in 1934, Conway's infancy occurs during the Great Depression, which strikes Australia hard. Her adolescence coincides with World War II and the post-war period during the later 1940s. Her perspective is heavily rooted in her time and place. First, Conway grows up with a deep passion for nature, people, social structures and history. She loves the backcountry people and as an adult decides to vindicate their importance in Australian history in her work.

Conway's political attitudes hew a line between the patriotism of the right and the negative assessment of Australian history as one of imperialism characteristic of the left. Conway spends a lot of time changing her perspective on her home life from one of pure adoration to one concerned that her family had benefitted from the exploitation of the land and labor...