Harden Elkington
Since the publication of The Fat Man in History in 1974, Australian novelist and short story writer Peter Carey has frequently blurred the line between history and fiction while mixing fact with fable.
His novels often reimagine major events from Australia’s past, and his latest book is no different. The true history of the Kelly gang has been shrouded in myth and legend, and Carey’s new novel, The Book of Dirt, attempts to set the record straight.
Did the Kelly Gang exist?
The short answer is yes, the Kelly Gang did exist. The gang was led by Ned Kelly, a young man from the Australian Outback who became a folk hero for his Robin Hood-like antics.
The gang’s story has been told many times in books, movies, and television shows, but Carey’s novel is the first to tell the story from Kelly’s perspective.
The Book of Dirt is based on the theory that Ned Kelly was not the cold-blooded murderer that history has made him out to be.
Carey contends that Kelly was simply a product of his environment and that his actions were a result of the conditions in which he lived.
This is a controversial theory, but it’s one that Carey makes a convincing case for in his novel.
Who is Ned Kelly?
The real Ned Kelly was born in June 1855, in the town of Beveridge, Victoria, Australia. He was the eldest son of Irish immigrants, and his father was a convicted felon.
Ned grew up in a poor family and had little education. As a young man, he worked as a bullock driver and drover before turning to crime.
The crime
The first robbery
Ned and his gang committed the Faithfull Creek robbery in 1878. They held up the station owner Mr. Scott and made away with £100, which was a large amount of money at the time.
The Stringybark Creek Murders
In October 1878, the Kelly Gang killed three policemen who were searching for them in the bush. The policemen had found the gang’s camp and were attempting to arrest them when they were shot.
This event made Ned Kelly a wanted man, and he became Australia’s most wanted outlaw.
The Glenrowan Siege
The final showdown between the Kelly Gang and the police took place at Glenrowan Inn in June 1880. The gang was holed up in the inn, and the police had surrounded it.
During the siege, Ned Kelly wore a suit of armor that he had made from plow blades.
The capture
On June 28, 1880, Ned Kelly was finally captured by police after a shootout at Glenrowan Inn. He was tried and convicted of murder, and he was hanged at Old Melbourne Gaol on November 11, 1880.
Ned Kelly’s last words
“Such is life.”
These were the famous last words of Ned Kelly, spoken just before he was hanged at Old Melbourne Gaol. With these words, he became a folk hero for many Australians.
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The legend
Ned Kelly has become a folk hero in Australia, and his story has been told many times in popular culture. He is often seen as a symbol of the struggles of the working class against the wealthy and powerful.
In his novel, Carey paints a more nuanced picture of Ned Kelly, and he shows that the truth is often more complicated than the legend.
Summary
Ned Kelly has become a folk hero in Australia, and his story has been told many times in popular culture. He is often seen as a symbol of the struggles of the working class against the wealthy and powerful.
In his novel, Carey paints a more nuanced picture of Ned Kelly, and he shows that the truth is often more complicated than the legend.
The book is sure to stir up controversy, but it’s an important contribution to our understanding of Australian history.
Carey has done a great service in bringing Ned Kelly’s story to light, and he deserves credit for his brave and ambitious attempt to tell the true story of the Kelly Gang.
