The Valley
By (Author) Steve Hawke
Fremantle Press
Fremantle Press
1st October 2018
Australia
General
Fiction
823.92
256
Width 141mm, Height 207mm, Spine 20mm
263g
A masterfully told epic of the Kimberley, Writing WA describes it as 'a generous and heartwarming story that is beautifully written, bringing the characters and country to vivid life.' A murder in the remote bush in 1916 sparks a chain of events that will haunt a family for generations. Hidden in the refuge of a secret valley, their tiny community lives unknown to the world. When, a century later, Broome schoolboy Dancer falls foul of the local bikie gang, he and his father head up the Gibb River Road. Here, in a maze of rugged ranges and remote communities, Dancer begins to unravel the truth behind the mysterious disappearance of Milly Rider, the mother he never knew. But the valley hides its secrets well. As Dancer learns the ways of his mother's country, he uncovers a precious inheritance - one not even those closest to Milly expected to find.
" The Valley deftly disentangles the accumulated driftwood of secrets, lies and fragmentary memory to reveal the redemptive power of coming to terms with our past. Steve Hawke draws us into a world that is respectfully and honestly grounded in decades of living in the Kimberley and working with Aboriginal communities, and in his own unique voice and humanity." Stephen Kinnane, author, Shadow Lines
Steve Hawke grew up in Melbourne but found his way to the Northern Territory and then the Kimberley as a nineteen-year-old in 1978. Captivated by the country, the history and the people, he stayed for almost fifteen years working with Aboriginal communities and organisations. He now lives in the hills outside Perth, but continues his strong association with the Kimberley, returning most years.