Rating: 
Summary: A riveting and exciting tale
Review: Peter Carey's The True History of the Kelly Gang is a gripping novel
centered around Australia's most famous Irish gang. Carey speaks in the voice of gang
leader Ned Kelly, and tells a tale of love, desire, loyalty, revenge, and justice. The reader is
easily transported into a time where men stole horses for money, brothers never betrayed
one another, and justice was a ongoing battle. Carey's expert writing captures the essence
of this time and also fills the novel with a strong dose of emotion and honesty. As Ned
Kelly writes at the beginning of his narrative, "This will contain no single lie may I burn in
Hell if I speak false."
Kelly Gang is arranged into thirteen parcels and structured as a letter to Ned's
daughter. Ned explains that he wants his daughter to know the true story behind his life
because he understands "what it is like to be raised on lies and silences." The reader
immediately strikes a trust with Ned because of this passionate statement. A crucialconnection to the main character is made at this time; a connection that will remain intact
throughout the entire novel.
Ned begins telling of his childhood as an Irish boy growing up in Australia. With
the death of his father, Ned becomes the man of the house at age twelve. His loyalty to his
family is unparallel, and he bravely shoulders the new responsibilities. Ned's real journey
begins when his mother selfishly sends him to become the apprentice of the famous horse
thief, Harry Power. It is while traveling with Harry that Ned gains the skills and
knowledge that will help him become an outlaw. As Kelly says in his narrative, "I were
traveling full tilt towards the man I would become." Ned sees his first jail cell by age
fifteen, and continues to run from the police for the better part of his life. The Kelly gang
forms almost accidentally when Ned and Dan Kelly band together with loyal friends to
escape their crimes and fight for justice. Although the novel is violent at times, there is
relativly little murder involved. Ned explains that "I have spilled human blood when there
were no other choice at that time."
Carey's excellent portrayal of Ned's voice serves to deepen the connection
between narrator and reader. The grammar of the novel is far from perfect, and sentences
often run together with little or no punctuation. However, Ned was not an educated man,
and it would be absurd for him to write in such a way. Although it takes some getting
used to, there is a rhythm to the writing that resembles poetry. Ned not only tells stories
of his life; he tells them with grace and sincerity. His language is alarmingly beautiful, and
contains both charm and wit. He even takes care to censor the swear words in the novel,
using the words "eff" or "adjectival" in their place. This makes perfect sense, as Ned was
writing this narrative for his daughter. There were times throughout the novel that I found
myself forgetting that I was reading a work of fiction, and not the words of Ned Kelly
himself. Carey should be commended on his ability to write in such a convincing and
thought-provoking manner.
Australian author Peter Carey has been exploring the history of his country
through writing for years. Carey has said, "My fictional project has always been the
invention or discovery of my own country." Writing such award winning books as Oscar
and Lucinda, Carey is no stranger to success. His insight into Australian history and his
ability to create stories beyond his own experience have gained him such awards as the
Booker Prize, The Commonwealth Writers Prize, and the National Book Council Award.
Carey also seems to have a knack for writing books that are attractive on the big screen.
Oscar and Lucinda was produced as a film in1997, and The History of the Kelly Gang will
make its big screen debut in March of 2004.
Although I found myself rooting for the loyal and gracious Kelly boys, history
cannot be rewritten. Carey's novel concludes with the death of the Kelly gang in a
brilliantly executed sequence filled with passion and fire. The brotherly connection
between the gang is evident as they fight for themselves, and each other. Even as Ned
Kelly is being beaten, he sees his younger brother standing courageously on the veranda
and knows "He was a Kelly, he would never run." This unconquerable loyalty finds its
way deep inside one's heart, and I sat in silence long after I finished the novel
contemplating the message within its pages. Ned's last words before he is hanged ring
with the sadness and defiance that personify his charactor. "Such is life." I could not have
said it better myself.
Peter Carey's exquisite retelling of the Ned Kelly's life is full of rich and beautiful
language, and enough reality to fully engage the reader. Although it gets a bit thick at
times, and many names speed past the reader without making an impact, the novel is filled
to the brim with heart. Carey is to be commended on his latest novel that reminds us all
that bravery and loyalty of men are never forgotten, and justice is worth fighting for.
Rating:
Summary: The Kelly Gang In A New Light
Review: What's it about? Fighting, intrigue, loyalty, revenge, love, hate, lots of good men, lots of bad men, banshees, Rat Charmers, daring escapes, clever captures, death, lies, truth, justice, and a little romance. In short, Peter Carey has put just about everything one could ask of a book into his novel, The True History of the Kelly Gang. Although Carey has produced a brilliant work, it does not quite hold the recognition of the 'perfect' novel. The book has an outstanding structure and style, but it tends to get a little heavy at times and one may not be as riveted as they expect by the story of Australia's most famous outlaw.
Ned Kelly himself tells the story of the Kelly Gang in a series of thirteen parcels written to his daughter. He begins his narrative saying, "I lost my own father at 12 yr. of age and know what it is to be raised on lies and silences my dear daughter you are presently too young to understand a word I write but this history is for you and will contain no single lie may I burn in Hell if I speak false" (7). Peter Carey has taken the simple story of the Kelly Gang and given it some zest by telling it in the perspective of Ned Kelly. The reader has a greater personal relationship with the protagonist because Kelly is writing to his daughter. Having these two elements in the story allows Carey to take a famous story and make it brand new.
Even though this book is a work of fiction there is a great deal of realism within it. A substantial number of the events are historically accurate. Also, Carey creates a sense of trust in Kelly when the narrator says, "[it] will contain no single lie may I burn in Hell if I speak false" (7). With a feeling of realism established Carey takes some liberties by adding in elements of fantasy. There are several examples of Irish folklore in this story. The two main events deal with a banshee and a Rat Charmer. Although these events may seem doubtful, the reader can appreciate them because of the author's (Ned Kelly's) perspective and their own willingness to believe due to the feeling of realism.
The most disappointing part of the book was that it is not as riveting as one would expect it to be. It is a story about the most famous outlaw from Australia, but there are times when the reader can get bored. There are so many details and so many characters that one can get lost in this bombardment of information. Perhaps Carey justifies this by saying that it is for the sake of Ned's daughter who would better appreciate these details. However, this is still a novel for the common person, not Ned Kelly's daughter. In addition to heaviness, the novel does not have as many action scenes as one might expect. The lack of action packed scenes may be due to the outlaw himself writing the story to his daughter, and therefore there is a more innocent and calm perspective. If the story were told from a different point of view perhaps there would be more thrill. In the end, one's style of reading will probably determine if they perceive the book as dull in places. However, I believe many will think the story to be too heavy at times.
Carey's saving grace is his unbelievable voice throughout the novel. He creates a world for Ned Kelly all the way down to his writing style. There is no punctuation beyond periods, there are run on sentences, dialogue is not marked by anything more than, "said he/ she," and curse words are changed to two letters with blanks in-between. This style is very difficult to get used to at first, but the reader will soon find that it adds so much to the storytelling. Also, the imagery is very captivating. Carey brings the reader into the world of Ned Kelly through his beautiful descriptions and interpretations. For example, Ned describes an encounter with a policeman during his youth, "The memory of the policeman's words lay inside me like the egg of a liver fluke and while I went about my growing up this slander wormed deeper and deeper into my heart and there grew fat" (12). The imagery is wonderful. The voice that Carey gives Ned Kelly can almost be poetic at times. This is what truly makes the book worth reading.
Despite some downfalls with the flow of the story, The True History of the Kelly Gang is a great read for just about anyone. The occasional heaviness in the book is made up for by the voice and overall story. It is a novel that has just about everything one could want. I would recommend this book to anyone who appreciates good writing and a good story.
Rating:
Summary: History of the Kelly Gang
Review: History of the Kelly Gang Only the True History of the Kelly Gang, by Peter Carey can combine violence, love, loyalty and justice to create, as the San Francisco Chronicle puts it, "A big, meaty novel." This book tells the story of Ned Kelly's life from ages 12 to 26 as he wrote it down for his daughter. Growing up a poor Irish boy in Australia, Ned Kelly learned the importance of fighting the oppression by the rich. Such childhood experiences shaped his life and later created the Kelly gang: a pack of four men; Ned, his brother Dan and their two friends Joe and Steve. Peter Carey captivates the reader with language and stories, enlightening the reader to the inner workings of the Kelly gang.
Thrusting the reader into Australia in the 1800's with his use of language, Peter Carey begins the story of Ned Kelly. His written accounts make clear that Ned Kelly did not have much of an education. He wrote just as he spoke: "Annie and Alex Gunn's wedding party were at the Oxley Hotel I were 14 yr. old and there was girls my age but I did not know how to dance and once I won the long jumping and the 1/4 mile gallop I were bored" (65). Many readers find his writing difficult and it may take time to get used to, but the language allows the reader to connect with Ned. The language gives the readers an in, feeling as though they are witnessing this wedding party, or they are the daughter he wrote to. The language brings Ned Kelly back from the dead to tell his side of the story. The closeness the readers feel towards Ned aids their understanding of his crimes. For the first time people are able to go inside Ned Kelly's world and read about his crimes from his point of view. They feel the anger Ned feels when police officer O'Neil insults Ned's dad, accusing him of wearing a dress and saying; "...he was off to be serviced by his husband..."(15). The readers also feel the hardships of poverty Ned faces, including being sold as an apprentice to a thief, so he could steal money to feed his family. Carey takes the readers on an exciting journey deep into the workings of the Kelly gang.
Peter Carey portrays the Kelly gang with modern values of justice and loyalty to bring a better understanding to readers. Ned Kelly prided himself on taking back what he felt he deserved and getting revenge on those who used him. Ned lives by the idea that he only steals and murders when necessary. When he steals his horses back after they were impounded, he states his ideology, saying; "...to take back what I legally owned this did not seem a crime to me not then or now" (198). By clearly stating his motives, readers can sympathize with Ned's oppression and maybe for the first time, relate to this infamous outlaw. Readers also identify with a second strong value of the Kelly gang: loyalty. Loyalty within the family proves crucial, Ned sacrifices his wife and eventually freedom in order to stay loyal to his mother and attempt to free her from jail. Ned sums up his feelings on loyalty in the very last, heartfelt scene in the novel. "They ripped him [Ned Kelly], kicked him, cried that they would shoot him dead, and even while their boots thudded on his armored chest he saw his little brother standing on the veranda. He was a Kelly, he would never run" (364). The themes of loyalty and justice that are prevalent in this novel provide the reader with tangible reasoning for the crimes committed by the Kelly gang. Peter Carey brings understanding of the Kelly gang's actions to the modern reader through his timeless themes of justice and loyalty.
The Kelly Gang appeals to much of the same audience as the modern movie, Boondock Saints. Boondock Saints sheds a modern light on the enduring values of justice and loyalty found in the novel. This novel is good for readers that do not like lingering questions in the end. A strong book, it concludes with an emotional battle, tying the whole story together to form the full circle of Ned Kelly's life. It does not leave the readers wondering about the whereabouts of Kelly and all the men associated with him (although these details will not be disclosed in this review). Through language and everlasting ideologies, the novel pulls the reader into Ned Kelly's life and takes them on the ride of a lifetime.
Peter Carey draws the readers back in time with his language and opens their eyes to another perspective of crime. It is hard to read this book and still maintain that the Kelly gang was a group of no good hoodlums. Carey makes this book so enthralling by intertwining themes found in the modern day to allow the readers a new understanding of Ned Kelly. Once readers get past the accurate language difficulties, they are pulled in and discover a realistic picture of the Kelly gang. Furthermore, themes of justice and loyalty bring understanding and sympathy for Ned to the modern reader. The readers come away with a better understanding and appreciation for one of Australia's most notorious gangs.
Rating: 
Summary: A book that gives you Oz in the palms of your hands
Review: Peter Carey picks up the dust of the Australian outback and throws it in your face with this book. He writes Ned Kelly's autobiography in the form of a letter to his daughter. In this, we get a completely different dimension to the folk-hero and the folk-lore that has become Ned Kelly. Carey's narrative (using Ned's voice) retells the history of Australia. On how 'convicts' were sentenced to exile for the slightest felony; and on how they were forced to eke out a living on the land and subsequently exploited. From this, background developed the personality of Ned who became the subject of numerous privations and Job-like visitudes. Carey's prose is simple and crystal clear but told in the language that you would expect of Kelly (peppered occasionally with some spelling mistakes and some syntax errors, this gives weight to its fictional authenticity). A wonderful read!
Rating: 
Summary: I'll let you in on a little secret...
Review: Carey's actually not a very good author, and this actually isn't a very good book. If you really feel that you absolutely *MUST* read something about Ned Kelly, then erase those thoughts immediately, because he isn't worth the two bucks of scrap metal that his stupid helmet was made out of. He's no hero. He's just a sauced Irishman with a bad attitude.
Rating:
Summary: Fascinating book on Australian bandit's life
Review: This is a book that I've recommended to a number of friends and family. It's a really great read. First, Mr. Carey has adopted the lyrical, unpunctuated style that Ned Kelly used and the same vernacular of the early Australian immigrants Second, the story of the Kelly family and the brutal, unfair conditions of life for the forced immigrants makes for an important and compelling story. The True History of the Kelly Gang is mainly a depressing tale, but there are moments of genuine humor and humanity. Highly recommended.
Rating:
Summary: Aussie Legend Brought to Life
Review: Every Australian knows about Ned Kelly. He continues to live as a true blue Aussie legend. But aside from his easily recognizable attire (steel armor, bucket over his head), what do we know about him as a man, son, brother, struggling farmer? Peter Carey's vision of Ned Kelly as human being is the most brilliant piece of writing I have read in years.
Written in first person, in the language of the time, the first few paragraphs cause you to slow down and try to absorb what he's saying. Carey takes the premise that Kelly wrote his story to his daughter, and the parcels of letters were amongst the "souvenirs" taken when Kelly was captured at Glenrowan.
While some may find this gimmicky, I found it inspired. You can really believe Ned Kelly wrote this; you can see him, you can feel his emotions, you can sense his hopelessness in a way a 3rd person narrative could never do.
Australian colonial history is particularly harsh. Britain dumped their unwanted in a great untamed land for which they never could have been prepared. And the crimes they committed to bring them here were not forgotten. This is the world Ned Kelly was born into, the son of an Irish convict reminded of his heritage at every turn. His story begins at age 3, and while his family is dirt poor, he remains blissfully unaware until his father's death when Ned is 12. As the eldest son, he takes on the responsibility of his mother and siblings.
His story and his personality are complex and multifaceted. This is a man who loved the land, loved his horses, and loved his family. He despised conflict, but above all, he had an incredible sense of loyalty and fair play. His loyalty to his family is amazing, especially in light of his treatment by his mother. She fiercely loved Ned, but sacrificed him when her situation got desperate. This was a woman who sold her 14 year old son to a bushranger. "...I knew how deep I loved her we was grown together like 2 branches of an old wisteria". She was the weaker in character, he would remain loyal to her until the end. Ned gets drawn into conflict at every turn and seemed to fall into most of his dire predicaments when attempting to right a wrong, rescue a brother, or save his mother.
An accidental bushranger? Probably not, Ned Kelly never shirks responsibility for what he becomes. But in reading this story, you come to realize that the stories that live on, the legend, are more complex than you may have originally thought. Was he forced by circumstance to commit his crimes? We'll never know. But it does make you wonder about the parallels between Ned Kelly and the desperate criminals we know in our time. As Carey quotes from William Faulkner, "the past is not dead. It is not even past". Do we continue to create criminals with poverty, discrimination, and abuse of human rights? A bigger question to take with you after reading this book.
Philosophizing aside, this can stand alone as a great story. It has all the elements of a great action adventure novel: great characters, tragedy, comedy, beautiful descriptive prose, and the ability to transport the reader to another era. Never visited Australia? You will feel as though you have after reading this book. You will be transported to colonial Australia; you will feel the heat of the summer, the brittle cold of the winter, the hardness of the ground, the harshness of the land.
A myth brought to life, The True History of The Kelly Gang is a book not to be missed.
Rating:
Summary: Highly Recommended
Review: Once you get used to Carey's style it is smooth sailing, but the book is written as if Kelly himself had penned it, complete with regional dialect, misspellings, and the grammer of the time. It starts from his early childhood so there is a lot of material to wade through before Ned gets to his outlaw days. One is left with a sense of what it must have been like to grow up Irish in a land ruled by the British, not so different than what his father experienced in his native land. What you're left with is the tale of a young boy shaped by the morality and frontier justice of the time, who never got a fair shake in life. Ned, who lost his father at age twwelve, had a fierce sense of loyalty and responsibilty, and left to his own devices would have been happy to scratch out an existance on the land he so dearly loved. But his mother, always an opportunist, saw a chance to apprentice him to one of her lovers, a notorious bush-ranger, and from that moment on Ned's fate is sealed. Highly recommended.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent, well done, lovely craftmanship
Review: The book was purposely written in an ungrammatical text for good reason. It worked. I believed I was reading the salvaged materials written by the narrator about experiences set in mid-nineteenth century Australia. I dislike "gimmik" tales that rely on cute tactics in order to camouflage mediocre writing. Carey used this device masterfully. I never recommend a book I can't put down. Yes, it was sometimes tough to sympathize with some things Ned Kelly or his kin did. Isn't that just what the "true history" part is about? Yes, this posse engaged in criminal and foolish activities sometimes. Carey wrote them into human beings and I believed the good and the bad they did. Great job, Mr. Carey.
Rating: 
Summary: I just didn't buy it!
Review: This novel was the romanticized life of another gangster like Billy the Kid or Jesse James, but I never felt any sympathy for the main character at all, and thus, I'm not sure what Peter Carey's objective was. Why write a novel about a character that we're not supposed to have any emotional involvement with? Through the completely excessive amount of pages in this book, I ended up thinking that Ned Kelly was simply stupid. He made bad choices as a result of his idiocy, not because of some larger issue like repressive society, or mental illness, or anything broad reaching and universal (though some would argue that stupidity is universal), so rather than feel sorry for him, or want him to raise himself up, I just wanted him to be shot and have the novel over with.
Usually Booker prize winners are a sure thing, but this one was definitely a miss. I gave the book away the second I finished it.
|
