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Bila Yarrudhanggalangdhuray
‘There are books you encounter as an adult that you wish you could press into the hands of your younger self. Bila Yarrudhanggalangdhuray is one of those books – a novel that turns Australia’s long-mythologised settler history into a raw and resilient heartsong.' – Guardian ***WINNER 2022 NSW PREMIER'S LITERARY AWARD INDIGENOUS WRITER'S PRIZE*** ***2022 ABIA SHORTLIST******2021 ARA HISTORICAL NOVEL PRIZE SHORTLIST*** ***2022 STELLA PRIZE LONGLIST*** ***2022 INDIE BOOK AWARDS LONGLIST*** ***2022 VICTORIAN PREMIER'S LITERARY AWARDS HIGHLY COMMENDED*** _______________________________________________ Gundagai, 1852 The powerful Murrumbidgee River surges through town leaving death and destruction in its wake. It is a stark reminder that while the river can give life, it can just as easily take it away. Wagadhaany is one of the lucky ones. She survives. But is her life now better than the fate she escaped? Forced to move away from her miyagan, she walks through each day with no trace of dance in her step, her broken heart forever calling her back home to Gundagai. When she meets Wiradyuri stockman Yindyamarra, Wagadhaany’s heart slowly begins to heal. But still, she dreams of a better life, away from the degradation of being owned. She longs to set out along the river of her ancestors, in search of lost family and country. Can she find the courage to defy the White man’s law? And if she does, will it bring hope ... or heartache?Set on timeless Wiradyuri country, where the life-giving waters of the rivers can make or break dreams, and based on devastating true events, Bila Yarrudhanggalangdhuray (River of Dreams) is an epic story of love, loss and belonging.Praise for Bila Yarrudhanggalangdhuray (River of Dreams) 'Heiss fuses fiction with realism, conjuring a resonance still felt in Blak struggle today ... packs heart into every page.' – Saturday Paper 'Tells a powerful and affecting tale of Aboriginal people's identity, community and deep connection to country.’ – Canberra Times 'A profoundly moving showcase of Heiss’ skill ... Intimate, reflective, and impossible to put down.’ – AU Review ‘Engrossing and wonderful storytelling. I really loved these strong, brave Wiradyuri characters.’ – Melissa Lucashenko ‘A powerful story of family, place and belonging.’ – Kate Grenville ‘A remarkable story of courage and a love of country ... Anita Heiss writes with heart and energy on every page.’ – Tony Birch'It is a love story, a story of loss, a hopeful story. The river is a guide, but you have to be open to its spiritual lessons.
394 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 1, 2021
About the author
Anita Heiss
35 books517 followersProfessor Anita Heiss – bio
Anita is a proud member of the Wiradjuri nation of central New South Wales, and is one of Australia’s most prolific and well-known authors, publishing across genres, including non-fiction, historical fiction, commercial fiction and children’s novels.
Her adult fiction includes Not Meeting Mr Right, Avoiding Mr Right, Manhattan Dreaming, Paris Dreaming and Tiddas. Her most recent books include Barbed Wire and Cherry Blossoms which was longlisted for the Dublin International Literary Prize and was named the University of Canberra’s 2020 Book of the Year.
The anthology Growing Up Aboriginal in Australia which Anita edited, was named the Small Publisher Adult Book of the Year at the 2019 Australian Book Industry Awards.
Anita’s children’s literature includes Kicking Goals with Goodesy and Magic, co-written with Adam Goodes and Michael O’Loughlin. She also wrote two kids’ novels with students from La Perouse Public School - Yirra and her deadly dog Demon and Demon Guards the School Yard, and more recently, Harry’s Secret and Matty’s Comeback.
Anita’s other published works also include the historical novel Who Am I? The Diary of Mary Talence, Sydney 1937, non-fiction text Dhuuluu-Yala (To Talk Straight) – Publishing Aboriginal Literature, and The Macquarie PEN Anthology of Aboriginal Literature, which she co-authored with Peter Minter.
In 2004 Anita was listed in The Bulletin magazine’s “Smart 100”. Her memoir Am I Black Enough for You? was a finalist in the 2012 Human Rights Awards and she was a finalist in the 2013 Australian of the Year Awards (Local Hero).
As an advocate for Indigenous literacy, Anita has worked in remote communities as a role model and encouraging young Indigenous Australians to write their own stories. On an international level she has performed her own work and lectured on Aboriginal literature across the globe at universities and conferences, consulates and embassies in the USA, Canada, the UK, Tahiti, Fiji, New Caledonia, Spain, Japan, Austria, Germany and New Zealand.
Anita is proud to be a Lifetime Ambassador for the Indigenous Literacy Foundation, and an Ambassador of Worawa Aboriginal College, the GO Foundation and the Sydney Swans.
She is on the Board of the State Library of Queensland, CIRCA and the University of QLD Press. In 2019 Anita was appointed a Professor of Communications at the University of QLD and in 2020 is the Artist in Residence at La Boitte Theatre.
Anita’s website: www.anitaheiss.com
Storytime with Aunty Nita: https://www.moretonbay.qld.gov.au/lib...
Anita is a proud member of the Wiradjuri nation of central New South Wales, and is one of Australia’s most prolific and well-known authors, publishing across genres, including non-fiction, historical fiction, commercial fiction and children’s novels.
Her adult fiction includes Not Meeting Mr Right, Avoiding Mr Right, Manhattan Dreaming, Paris Dreaming and Tiddas. Her most recent books include Barbed Wire and Cherry Blossoms which was longlisted for the Dublin International Literary Prize and was named the University of Canberra’s 2020 Book of the Year.
The anthology Growing Up Aboriginal in Australia which Anita edited, was named the Small Publisher Adult Book of the Year at the 2019 Australian Book Industry Awards.
Anita’s children’s literature includes Kicking Goals with Goodesy and Magic, co-written with Adam Goodes and Michael O’Loughlin. She also wrote two kids’ novels with students from La Perouse Public School - Yirra and her deadly dog Demon and Demon Guards the School Yard, and more recently, Harry’s Secret and Matty’s Comeback.
Anita’s other published works also include the historical novel Who Am I? The Diary of Mary Talence, Sydney 1937, non-fiction text Dhuuluu-Yala (To Talk Straight) – Publishing Aboriginal Literature, and The Macquarie PEN Anthology of Aboriginal Literature, which she co-authored with Peter Minter.
In 2004 Anita was listed in The Bulletin magazine’s “Smart 100”. Her memoir Am I Black Enough for You? was a finalist in the 2012 Human Rights Awards and she was a finalist in the 2013 Australian of the Year Awards (Local Hero).
As an advocate for Indigenous literacy, Anita has worked in remote communities as a role model and encouraging young Indigenous Australians to write their own stories. On an international level she has performed her own work and lectured on Aboriginal literature across the globe at universities and conferences, consulates and embassies in the USA, Canada, the UK, Tahiti, Fiji, New Caledonia, Spain, Japan, Austria, Germany and New Zealand.
Anita is proud to be a Lifetime Ambassador for the Indigenous Literacy Foundation, and an Ambassador of Worawa Aboriginal College, the GO Foundation and the Sydney Swans.
She is on the Board of the State Library of Queensland, CIRCA and the University of QLD Press. In 2019 Anita was appointed a Professor of Communications at the University of QLD and in 2020 is the Artist in Residence at La Boitte Theatre.
Anita’s website: www.anitaheiss.com
Storytime with Aunty Nita: https://www.moretonbay.qld.gov.au/lib...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 415 reviews
September 24, 2024
A poignant and deeply moving historical fiction starting from the events of the catastrophic Gundagai floods, this novel offers a powerful glimpse into Australia’s early settlers through the eyes of Wagadhaany, a Wiradyuri woman. While there are moments of joy, the overwhelming feelings I experienced were sadness, anger, and discomfort as it exposes Australia’s dark and disturbing history of white settlement.
This book serves as a stark reminder that the fight for equality—particularly for our First Nations people—is far from over. The distressing truth is that figures like James and David Bradley still exist today: racist, power-hungry men who perpetuate inequality and inequity.
That said, the beauty of this story shouldn’t be overlooked. It’s a vital read that manages to balance pain with moments of light and hope. I’d also recommend pairing it with Dark Emu by Bruce Pascoe for an even richer understanding of Australia’s history.
This book serves as a stark reminder that the fight for equality—particularly for our First Nations people—is far from over. The distressing truth is that figures like James and David Bradley still exist today: racist, power-hungry men who perpetuate inequality and inequity.
That said, the beauty of this story shouldn’t be overlooked. It’s a vital read that manages to balance pain with moments of light and hope. I’d also recommend pairing it with Dark Emu by Bruce Pascoe for an even richer understanding of Australia’s history.
April 9, 2021
I knew as I read the prologue that this was going to be a good read. Set in Gundagai in 1838, an aboriginal man is trying to tell a white man not to build his house on the floodplain.
The man scoffs as he points to the dry landscape. “You don’t know what you’re talking about. We need rain. It certainly doesn’t look like it’s going to flood to me.”
“It hasn’t flooded for longest time,” says Yarri. “It will happen again. We know.”
(After the recent heavy rains and flooding in NSW this seemed appropriate!)
The story moves forward to 1852 and Yarri’s daughter, Wagadhanaay works for the Bradley family in the house being built in the prologue. The floods of that year are devastating.
The book is mainly about Wagadhanaay and her life, both her work and her miyagan (family).
There’s also some parts about Louisa, a Quaker woman who marries into the Bradley family and when they move to Wagga Wagga insists Wagadhanaay comes with them.
I really loved reading this book. The author weaves the indigenous language through the story and she does it so well that you can generally work out what the words mean by their context (there is a glossary also). There’s an attention to detail with regards to customs and the environment and the gentle love story is well told. I found it hard to put the book down, it was great to read a story from the indigenous point of view and while it made me angry and sad in many places there’s much to enjoy.
A beautiful book that will stay with me.
The man scoffs as he points to the dry landscape. “You don’t know what you’re talking about. We need rain. It certainly doesn’t look like it’s going to flood to me.”
“It hasn’t flooded for longest time,” says Yarri. “It will happen again. We know.”
(After the recent heavy rains and flooding in NSW this seemed appropriate!)
The story moves forward to 1852 and Yarri’s daughter, Wagadhanaay works for the Bradley family in the house being built in the prologue. The floods of that year are devastating.
The book is mainly about Wagadhanaay and her life, both her work and her miyagan (family).
There’s also some parts about Louisa, a Quaker woman who marries into the Bradley family and when they move to Wagga Wagga insists Wagadhanaay comes with them.
I really loved reading this book. The author weaves the indigenous language through the story and she does it so well that you can generally work out what the words mean by their context (there is a glossary also). There’s an attention to detail with regards to customs and the environment and the gentle love story is well told. I found it hard to put the book down, it was great to read a story from the indigenous point of view and while it made me angry and sad in many places there’s much to enjoy.
A beautiful book that will stay with me.
May 7, 2021
The first Australian novel to be released with a title in Wiradyuri language, Bila Yarrudhanggalangdhuray, which translates to River of Dreams, is a novel of historical fiction based on true events from Anita Heiss.
When the Murrumbidgee River breaks its banks in 1852 it devastates the fledgling town of Gundagai, built too close to the water’s edge despite the warnings of the local Wiradyuri tribe. Only two members of the Bradley family survive and in the wake of the flood, they decide to start again in Wagga Wagga. Wagadhaany (Wog-a-dine), who has been in the service of the Bradley’s for four years, assumes this means she can return to her family, especially when the eldest brother takes a new bride, but instead she is forced to leave her country, and her miyagan to accompany them.
While Bila Yarrudhanggalangdhuray explores the universal themes of family, loss, love and belonging, it does so from the unique viewpoint of Wagadhaany, a young Wiradyuri woman. With courage and resilience Wagadhaany endures the cruel separation from her family, and her country, and the dehumanising policies of British colonisation towards First Nations people, finding love with a young Aboriginal stockman, but always yearning to return home.
Herself a proud member of the Wiradjuri Nation of central New South Wales, Heiss writes beautifully of Wagadhaany’s connection to country and family, of her respect for tradition and her pride in her people. I appreciated the insight into the traditional way of life for the First Nations people, and I particularly liked being introduced to the Wiradyuri language, which is easily decipherable through context (though there is a glossary in back if needed).
Through the characters of the Bradley family, Heiss illustrates the ignorant and arrogant treatment of the colonialists toward both the land and the aboriginal people. Their folly is laid bare by the floods, and their insistence on shaping the land to fit their needs. Heiss shows how even those who considered themselves well-intentioned, like James Bradley’s Quaker bride, Louise, advocated paternalism rather than genuine self-determinism.
If I’m honest I feel the writing is a little repetitive at times. Though it’s understandable Wagadhaany’s thoughts dwell on what she has lost and her unhappiness, the middle third of the book doesn’t really have much momentum. I found the love story between Wagadhaany and Yindyamarra engaging, and Wagadhaany’s journey home moving and poignant.
Stirring and edifying, Bila Yarrudhanggalangdhuray is a book that will speak to the hearts and minds of readers.
When the Murrumbidgee River breaks its banks in 1852 it devastates the fledgling town of Gundagai, built too close to the water’s edge despite the warnings of the local Wiradyuri tribe. Only two members of the Bradley family survive and in the wake of the flood, they decide to start again in Wagga Wagga. Wagadhaany (Wog-a-dine), who has been in the service of the Bradley’s for four years, assumes this means she can return to her family, especially when the eldest brother takes a new bride, but instead she is forced to leave her country, and her miyagan to accompany them.
While Bila Yarrudhanggalangdhuray explores the universal themes of family, loss, love and belonging, it does so from the unique viewpoint of Wagadhaany, a young Wiradyuri woman. With courage and resilience Wagadhaany endures the cruel separation from her family, and her country, and the dehumanising policies of British colonisation towards First Nations people, finding love with a young Aboriginal stockman, but always yearning to return home.
Herself a proud member of the Wiradjuri Nation of central New South Wales, Heiss writes beautifully of Wagadhaany’s connection to country and family, of her respect for tradition and her pride in her people. I appreciated the insight into the traditional way of life for the First Nations people, and I particularly liked being introduced to the Wiradyuri language, which is easily decipherable through context (though there is a glossary in back if needed).
Through the characters of the Bradley family, Heiss illustrates the ignorant and arrogant treatment of the colonialists toward both the land and the aboriginal people. Their folly is laid bare by the floods, and their insistence on shaping the land to fit their needs. Heiss shows how even those who considered themselves well-intentioned, like James Bradley’s Quaker bride, Louise, advocated paternalism rather than genuine self-determinism.
If I’m honest I feel the writing is a little repetitive at times. Though it’s understandable Wagadhaany’s thoughts dwell on what she has lost and her unhappiness, the middle third of the book doesn’t really have much momentum. I found the love story between Wagadhaany and Yindyamarra engaging, and Wagadhaany’s journey home moving and poignant.
Stirring and edifying, Bila Yarrudhanggalangdhuray is a book that will speak to the hearts and minds of readers.
March 22, 2023
This novel begins with the Great Flood of 1852 in Gundagai and the river is a key element, the way in which it supports life, the way in which it takes life, the fact that it commands respect. Unfortunately, I was very disappointed by this book. The mighty river, the descriptions of the flood were lacking. There was no build up of tension, no drama, no pain, it felt like a monotone reporting of an historical event in which many people lost their lives. It could have been, and needed to be, so much more and I could not help but compare the river in this novel to that in the wonderful 'Song of the Crocodile'.
I also had some difficulty with other elements of the novel. The characters felt flat and there were some who I am still wondering why they were there. There was confusion for me within the depiction of the brothers and I am left asking about David and what purpose he served - the link, the debt of owing ones life? Similarly, his purpose as the potentially creepy, abusive or is it adoring white man?
Like so many novels I have read of late there were a lot of themes and yet there was not a lot of depth to a number of those themes, which are mentioned almost in passing. Again I find myself thinking, do one or two really well, rather than mention all and sundry superficially.
I loved the inclusion of the indigenous language and this is a great trend in modern indigenous writing, emphasizing the links between language and identity, of colonial wrongs and more. And this is not just in Australia, where it is so beautifully handled by authors such as Kim Scott, but also internationally, Louise Erdrich for example. I also noticed the number of times the author highlights the fact that Wagadhaany does not understand the English words and yet her dialogue is perfect, quite sophisticated and very British English, and this just did not sit well for me.
I did not dislike this book, I was just very disappointed in it and was relieved when my fellow book group members raised similar issues. I know, not for the first time, I sit outside of the majority in my opinion. Perhaps I am too harsh, expect too much? But then there are so many other books that I adore and admire. For me, this was a great story and had enormous potential, but as I closed the cover for the last time I could not help thinking what might have been in the hands of another teller.
I also had some difficulty with other elements of the novel. The characters felt flat and there were some who I am still wondering why they were there. There was confusion for me within the depiction of the brothers and I am left asking about David and what purpose he served - the link, the debt of owing ones life? Similarly, his purpose as the potentially creepy, abusive or is it adoring white man?
Like so many novels I have read of late there were a lot of themes and yet there was not a lot of depth to a number of those themes, which are mentioned almost in passing. Again I find myself thinking, do one or two really well, rather than mention all and sundry superficially.
I loved the inclusion of the indigenous language and this is a great trend in modern indigenous writing, emphasizing the links between language and identity, of colonial wrongs and more. And this is not just in Australia, where it is so beautifully handled by authors such as Kim Scott, but also internationally, Louise Erdrich for example. I also noticed the number of times the author highlights the fact that Wagadhaany does not understand the English words and yet her dialogue is perfect, quite sophisticated and very British English, and this just did not sit well for me.
I did not dislike this book, I was just very disappointed in it and was relieved when my fellow book group members raised similar issues. I know, not for the first time, I sit outside of the majority in my opinion. Perhaps I am too harsh, expect too much? But then there are so many other books that I adore and admire. For me, this was a great story and had enormous potential, but as I closed the cover for the last time I could not help thinking what might have been in the hands of another teller.
May 20, 2021
perfect
September 28, 2024
A wonderful and painful read. Based on true events, a major flood in Gundagai in 1852 and events in Wagga Wagga later.
Our heroine, Wagadhaany, is a young Wirandjuri woman working in servitude for an English family when the flood occurs. Part of Australia's sad and cruel history was where aboriginals were not free and were forced to work for English families in their homes and on their properties. When the Bradley brothers decide to move to Wagga Wagga with James' new wife Louisa, Wagadhaany is forced to leave her family and go with them, in servitude. Louisa is a Quaker and strongly believes in equality of all peoples, wanting to change the story for the First Nations people and tries throughout to befriend Wagadhaany and her people. The Wiradjuri are a proud people with close ties to the land and each other, which is totally alien to the English invaders.
I found this book very hard to read, yet as with all good history, the dialogue is going to be painful at times. Wonderful Wiradjuri language throughout, including the book's title. As a non native immigrant to this land, I always need to read and discover more Australian history, and it's often not nice and quite painful.
Our heroine, Wagadhaany, is a young Wirandjuri woman working in servitude for an English family when the flood occurs. Part of Australia's sad and cruel history was where aboriginals were not free and were forced to work for English families in their homes and on their properties. When the Bradley brothers decide to move to Wagga Wagga with James' new wife Louisa, Wagadhaany is forced to leave her family and go with them, in servitude. Louisa is a Quaker and strongly believes in equality of all peoples, wanting to change the story for the First Nations people and tries throughout to befriend Wagadhaany and her people. The Wiradjuri are a proud people with close ties to the land and each other, which is totally alien to the English invaders.
I found this book very hard to read, yet as with all good history, the dialogue is going to be painful at times. Wonderful Wiradjuri language throughout, including the book's title. As a non native immigrant to this land, I always need to read and discover more Australian history, and it's often not nice and quite painful.
November 21, 2021
Bila Yarrudhanggalangdhuray translates from the Wiradjuri language of central-southern NSW as "river of dreams", a reference to the mighty Murrumbidgee River (Marrambidya Bila), on whose banks the novel is set. Author Anita Heiss is a proud member of the Wiradjuri Nations herself, and incorporates many examples of the language into the narrative, as well as providing a glossary at the end of the book. Readers who enjoyed Tara June Winch's brilliant 2020 release (and Miles Franklin Award winner that year) The Yield will recognise the landscape, mythology and some of the language, as both books are set on Wiradjuri lands in the vicinity of modern Wagga Wagga.
After a short introductory chapter set in 1838, Bila Yarrudhanggalangdhuray moves to the trauma of the Gundagai flood of 1852, a real historical event that claimed the lives of at least 78 people, remaining one of Australia's worst natural disasters on record. Against the well-meant advice of local indigenous people, European settlers persisted in building the original town on the wide floodplain of the Murrumbidgee, an area still prone to occasional inundation, even since the construction of the Snowy Mountains HydroElectric Scheme upstream during the mid-2oth century. The modern town of Gundagai sits further away from the river and is (mostly) protected by a comprehensive system of levies.
The book's heroine, a young Wiradjuri woman called Wagadhaany (which means "dancer"), is the daughter of local Wiradjuri leader Yarri, a real historical figure who was a hero of the 1852 floods, rescuing scores of settlers from the rising waters and now, somewhat belatedly, commemorated by a statue in Gundagai's main street. Wagadhaany works as a housemaid for the prominent Bradley family, but they call her "Wilma", as they maintain that her real name is too hard to pronounce and they see no reason to try. She works hard for the Bradleys, but earns little if anything for her efforts. While Mrs. Bradley treats her kindly, she's wary of the attentions of younger son David.
Following the devastation of the floods, Wagadhaany remains with the surviving Bradleys as they make plans for the future. Eldest son James marries local Quaker widow, Louisa Spencer, who befriends Wagadhaany, treating both her and her culture with respect and interest, and for a while Wagadhaany's life improves. Then James Bradley announces that the family has purchased land in the newly-established town of Wagga Wagga, some distance downstream from Gundagai. Wagadhaany is secretly delighted, believing that this will be her opportunity to return to her own family, however she's soon horrified to learn that the Bradleys intend taking her to Wagga Wagga with them, as Louisa's companion and lady's maid. While the journey between Wagga and Gundagai now takes about an hour by road, in the mid 19th century it was several days' journey, and Wagadhaany must face the devastating reality of rarely having contact with her family, if ever again.
We follow Wagadhaany and the Bradleys as they establish themselves in Wagga Wagga, Wagadhaany making connections within the local Wiradjuri community, collaborating with Louisa on her social projects and eventually falling in love with handsome stockman Yindyamarra (which fittingly means respect, gentleness and honour). But will she ever see her beloved family in Gundagai again?
I found Bila Yarrudhanggalangdhuray a poignant and richly evocative read. As I grew up, albeit as a gabaa (person of European descent) in Wagga, the landscape, history and some of the language was familiar. While fictional, Wagadhaany's story is representative of the disrespectful and culturally devastating treatment of Australia's indigenous people during the colonial period, and in many respects up to the present day. I also found the integration of Louisa Bradley's Quaker affiliations and concerns really interesting, as my daughter attends a Quaker school. Clearly, Bila Yarrudhanggalangdhuray had many personal resonances and touchstones for me as a reader, however my feeling is that any reader interested in Australia's history would find this a fascinating, if disquieting, read.
Alternating with reading from a physical copy, I also listened to parts of Bila Yarrudhanggalangdhuray via the audiobook edition, narrated by Tamala Shelton, an Australian actress / voice actress / writer who has Bundjalung and Lamalama heritage (originating from northern coastal NSW and Cape York, respectively). I found that this format was a really immersive way to experience the book, also enabling the reader-listener to hear the correct pronunciation of the frequent Wiradjuri words and phrases.
Bila Yarrudhanggalangdhuray is definitely among my most cherished reads of 2021, and is a book I can imagine returning to re-read in the future.
After a short introductory chapter set in 1838, Bila Yarrudhanggalangdhuray moves to the trauma of the Gundagai flood of 1852, a real historical event that claimed the lives of at least 78 people, remaining one of Australia's worst natural disasters on record. Against the well-meant advice of local indigenous people, European settlers persisted in building the original town on the wide floodplain of the Murrumbidgee, an area still prone to occasional inundation, even since the construction of the Snowy Mountains HydroElectric Scheme upstream during the mid-2oth century. The modern town of Gundagai sits further away from the river and is (mostly) protected by a comprehensive system of levies.
The book's heroine, a young Wiradjuri woman called Wagadhaany (which means "dancer"), is the daughter of local Wiradjuri leader Yarri, a real historical figure who was a hero of the 1852 floods, rescuing scores of settlers from the rising waters and now, somewhat belatedly, commemorated by a statue in Gundagai's main street. Wagadhaany works as a housemaid for the prominent Bradley family, but they call her "Wilma", as they maintain that her real name is too hard to pronounce and they see no reason to try. She works hard for the Bradleys, but earns little if anything for her efforts. While Mrs. Bradley treats her kindly, she's wary of the attentions of younger son David.
Following the devastation of the floods, Wagadhaany remains with the surviving Bradleys as they make plans for the future. Eldest son James marries local Quaker widow, Louisa Spencer, who befriends Wagadhaany, treating both her and her culture with respect and interest, and for a while Wagadhaany's life improves. Then James Bradley announces that the family has purchased land in the newly-established town of Wagga Wagga, some distance downstream from Gundagai. Wagadhaany is secretly delighted, believing that this will be her opportunity to return to her own family, however she's soon horrified to learn that the Bradleys intend taking her to Wagga Wagga with them, as Louisa's companion and lady's maid. While the journey between Wagga and Gundagai now takes about an hour by road, in the mid 19th century it was several days' journey, and Wagadhaany must face the devastating reality of rarely having contact with her family, if ever again.
We follow Wagadhaany and the Bradleys as they establish themselves in Wagga Wagga, Wagadhaany making connections within the local Wiradjuri community, collaborating with Louisa on her social projects and eventually falling in love with handsome stockman Yindyamarra (which fittingly means respect, gentleness and honour). But will she ever see her beloved family in Gundagai again?
I found Bila Yarrudhanggalangdhuray a poignant and richly evocative read. As I grew up, albeit as a gabaa (person of European descent) in Wagga, the landscape, history and some of the language was familiar. While fictional, Wagadhaany's story is representative of the disrespectful and culturally devastating treatment of Australia's indigenous people during the colonial period, and in many respects up to the present day. I also found the integration of Louisa Bradley's Quaker affiliations and concerns really interesting, as my daughter attends a Quaker school. Clearly, Bila Yarrudhanggalangdhuray had many personal resonances and touchstones for me as a reader, however my feeling is that any reader interested in Australia's history would find this a fascinating, if disquieting, read.
Alternating with reading from a physical copy, I also listened to parts of Bila Yarrudhanggalangdhuray via the audiobook edition, narrated by Tamala Shelton, an Australian actress / voice actress / writer who has Bundjalung and Lamalama heritage (originating from northern coastal NSW and Cape York, respectively). I found that this format was a really immersive way to experience the book, also enabling the reader-listener to hear the correct pronunciation of the frequent Wiradjuri words and phrases.
Bila Yarrudhanggalangdhuray is definitely among my most cherished reads of 2021, and is a book I can imagine returning to re-read in the future.
June 15, 2021
The first novel to have a title in an indigenous language - specifically the language of the Wiradjuri, on whose land this book is set.
I myself, read this a few kilometres from the banks of the Murrumbidgee River that winds it's way all the way to Gundagai where this novel starts off.
While I've spent many dreamy moments splashing in the sunlit waters of the local swimming spots, there are less dreamy moments contained in this novel for the indigenous people rubbing up against the first settlers of Gundagai and their misconceptions. There's an appropriate sense of the prejudice and hypocrisy along with the disassociation from dealing with those challenges every day.
I kept reading this in trepidation of what losses were going to befall the main characters, and they did suffer a terrible unexpected loss.
A good story which covers quite a few different aspects of early settlement that are little talked about. I knew of the floods in Gundagai and was expecting that to cover more of the book, but it acts as an impetus to take the story further.
An interesting read, with a fairly straightforward narrative.
After reading the library book I decided this was one I needed for my book collection at home and now have one on my shelves.
My 100th book read in 2021
I myself, read this a few kilometres from the banks of the Murrumbidgee River that winds it's way all the way to Gundagai where this novel starts off.
While I've spent many dreamy moments splashing in the sunlit waters of the local swimming spots, there are less dreamy moments contained in this novel for the indigenous people rubbing up against the first settlers of Gundagai and their misconceptions. There's an appropriate sense of the prejudice and hypocrisy along with the disassociation from dealing with those challenges every day.
I kept reading this in trepidation of what losses were going to befall the main characters, and they did suffer a terrible unexpected loss.
A good story which covers quite a few different aspects of early settlement that are little talked about. I knew of the floods in Gundagai and was expecting that to cover more of the book, but it acts as an impetus to take the story further.
An interesting read, with a fairly straightforward narrative.
After reading the library book I decided this was one I needed for my book collection at home and now have one on my shelves.
My 100th book read in 2021
June 23, 2021
Thanks Anita. What a wonderful book that is a must read for all Aussies. A modern day parable that tells of life from an Aboriginal perspective. It is an easy to read, well researched history of the 1850s that should be as well known to all of us as the stories of Ned Kelly.
Great use of the Wiradyuri language and local river knowledge of the Marrambidya Bila.
Great use of the Wiradyuri language and local river knowledge of the Marrambidya Bila.
September 1, 2021
I love the language in this book and some of the insight into the culture, but I was disappointed that it's so two dimensional. The characters are very much "good" and "bad" with little depth. The narrative tells you things rather than showing you. It's not emotive and feels full of cliches. I found it grating and hard to get into.
January 26, 2022
Finished this morning - appropriate as it is Australia Day, which is a date of contention for a lot of people in Australia, esp. First Nations people. I am a 6th generation white Australian and I think it is important to learn about all our history, the good and bad, so we can do better in the future.
Bila Yarrudhanggalangdhuray tells the story of Wagadhaany, a young Wiradyuri woman who endures the separation from her family in the service of the Bradley family.
After the Murrumbidgee River breaks its banks in 1852 and devastates the fledgling town of Gundagai, the two surviving members of the Bradley family, decide to start again in Wagga Wagga. The brothers saved Wagadhaany during the flood and were then saved by her father, Yarri.
When the Bradley brothers and the eldest new bride move to Wagga Wagga, they take Wagadhaany with them, away from her family, her country and her connection to the land.
This story is told from Wagadhaany's perspective and you can emphasise with her anguish and feelings of helplessness from not being in control of her own destiny.
I plan to listen to the audiobook to hear the Wiradyuri words spoken correctly, as I am sure that I am not pronouncing them right in my head, and I think it is important to get it right.
Bila Yarrudhanggalangdhuray tells the story of Wagadhaany, a young Wiradyuri woman who endures the separation from her family in the service of the Bradley family.
After the Murrumbidgee River breaks its banks in 1852 and devastates the fledgling town of Gundagai, the two surviving members of the Bradley family, decide to start again in Wagga Wagga. The brothers saved Wagadhaany during the flood and were then saved by her father, Yarri.
When the Bradley brothers and the eldest new bride move to Wagga Wagga, they take Wagadhaany with them, away from her family, her country and her connection to the land.
This story is told from Wagadhaany's perspective and you can emphasise with her anguish and feelings of helplessness from not being in control of her own destiny.
I plan to listen to the audiobook to hear the Wiradyuri words spoken correctly, as I am sure that I am not pronouncing them right in my head, and I think it is important to get it right.
February 16, 2022
I don't think I've ever read a book that was about the Wiradyuri people on Australia and this is hopefully not my last. Anita Heiss is a very talented writer that had me hooked on the story and so easy getting invested in. It's a 4.5 star read for me. While I thought the book was very talented written it didn't quite give me 5 stars feels. Maybe I'll change it later after been sitting on it
April 29, 2022
BILA YARRUDHANGGALANGDHURAY had a premise that really piqued my interest — a reawakening of Australia’s colonial past from the perspective of the displaced. I was intrigued.
It’s set back in the 1850s and centres around a young Wiradjuri woman named Wagadhaany, an unpaid servant to a colonial family, the Bradleys. As is the nature of such relationships, there are many misgivings and many more misunderstandings. But through it all, a tentative friendship blooms with her master’s new wife Louisa, as well as a burgeoning love story with local stockman Yindyamarra.
I read BILA YARRUDHANGGALANGDHURAY a while ago now and while I really appreciated the storyline on the whole, I felt like it lost its way with its execution.
Heiss has employed a flat transactional writing style that I found quite one dimensional; the stilted language and repetitive detail made it really hard for me to engage with the characters. There were opportunities to bring in heavier conflict and messier consequences, but the dramatic value stayed pretty temperate. I also thought there were inconsistencies with how Wagadhaany was portrayed, a duality in her nature that made her less believable. She is both naive and perceptive. She openly confesses to her limitations with the English language yet possesses impeccable dialogue. It all felt a bit at odds.
I struggled to enjoy this one, but in saying that there is heart to the story and I really liked how the Wiradyuri language was embedded throughout. Perhaps with a bit more editorial direction, this one could have been a much more satisfying read.
Find more of my reviews on Instagram: @tackling.my.tbr
It’s set back in the 1850s and centres around a young Wiradjuri woman named Wagadhaany, an unpaid servant to a colonial family, the Bradleys. As is the nature of such relationships, there are many misgivings and many more misunderstandings. But through it all, a tentative friendship blooms with her master’s new wife Louisa, as well as a burgeoning love story with local stockman Yindyamarra.
I read BILA YARRUDHANGGALANGDHURAY a while ago now and while I really appreciated the storyline on the whole, I felt like it lost its way with its execution.
Heiss has employed a flat transactional writing style that I found quite one dimensional; the stilted language and repetitive detail made it really hard for me to engage with the characters. There were opportunities to bring in heavier conflict and messier consequences, but the dramatic value stayed pretty temperate. I also thought there were inconsistencies with how Wagadhaany was portrayed, a duality in her nature that made her less believable. She is both naive and perceptive. She openly confesses to her limitations with the English language yet possesses impeccable dialogue. It all felt a bit at odds.
I struggled to enjoy this one, but in saying that there is heart to the story and I really liked how the Wiradyuri language was embedded throughout. Perhaps with a bit more editorial direction, this one could have been a much more satisfying read.
Find more of my reviews on Instagram: @tackling.my.tbr
April 27, 2023
I know this is a very important book for many telling the story of the great flood of Gundagai 1852 and lives lost both First Nation people and white. However I did find it a bit of a hard slog. Maybe I will go back to it one day to re read it and enjoy it more but for now for me it did not keep my interest! I did learn a lot about the people of the Wiradyuri country especially the main character of the sorry Wadadhaany or Wilma as the family she worked for calls her much to her disgust.
We are constantly living through great floods in Australia throughout Queensland and NSW just now and it’s a continuing disaster throughout this land. As it says in the blurb “the river can give life, it can just as easily take it away”.
We are constantly living through great floods in Australia throughout Queensland and NSW just now and it’s a continuing disaster throughout this land. As it says in the blurb “the river can give life, it can just as easily take it away”.
May 7, 2021
‘Not a good place to live, Boss, too flat!’
In 1838, White settlers are moving into the Wiradyuri country around Gundagai. Wagadhaany’s father, Yarri, advises one of those settlers, Mr Bradley, not to build on the Marrambidya floodplain. It may not have flooded recently, but it will flood. His advice is ignored.
In June 1852, Wagadhaany is working for the Bradley family, in the house being built in 1838. Heavy rainfall followed by devasting floods result in lives being lost. Yarri saves Wagadhaany and some of the Bradleys. When the Bradleys move from Gundagai to Wagga Wagga, Wagadhaany must move with them. Away from her miyagan, away from all that is familiar.
‘She hates being the Black woman who just has to do what the White people tell her. She is grateful to be alive, but she hates that being alive reminds her that she is still powerless in her own life.’
Wagadhaany dreams of a better life, of returning to her family and country. Her mistress, Louisa Bradley, wants to help the local Black children but how can Wagadhaany explain, from her position of powerlessness, the cultural differences? Will Wagadhaany find a life of her own?
Most novels about the 19th century European settlement of Australia are written from the settlers’ perspective, with occasional reference to the Indigenous people. This is the first novel I have read from an Indigenous perspective, with Wiradyuri language and customs gently requiring me to look at history from a different viewpoint. Wagadhaany and her family came alive for me, as did their relationship with country.
This is a beautifully written novel which took me into a world I thought I knew from a new perspective. I liked the way Anita Heiss’s use of Wiradyuri language made me stop to work out meaning from context (there is a glossary included at the end of the book). And while I was working out meaning, I reflected on the impact of European settlement on traditional life. We cannot change the past, but we can learn from it.
Highly recommended.
Note: My thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster Australia for providing me with a free electronic copy of this book for review purposes.
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
In 1838, White settlers are moving into the Wiradyuri country around Gundagai. Wagadhaany’s father, Yarri, advises one of those settlers, Mr Bradley, not to build on the Marrambidya floodplain. It may not have flooded recently, but it will flood. His advice is ignored.
In June 1852, Wagadhaany is working for the Bradley family, in the house being built in 1838. Heavy rainfall followed by devasting floods result in lives being lost. Yarri saves Wagadhaany and some of the Bradleys. When the Bradleys move from Gundagai to Wagga Wagga, Wagadhaany must move with them. Away from her miyagan, away from all that is familiar.
‘She hates being the Black woman who just has to do what the White people tell her. She is grateful to be alive, but she hates that being alive reminds her that she is still powerless in her own life.’
Wagadhaany dreams of a better life, of returning to her family and country. Her mistress, Louisa Bradley, wants to help the local Black children but how can Wagadhaany explain, from her position of powerlessness, the cultural differences? Will Wagadhaany find a life of her own?
Most novels about the 19th century European settlement of Australia are written from the settlers’ perspective, with occasional reference to the Indigenous people. This is the first novel I have read from an Indigenous perspective, with Wiradyuri language and customs gently requiring me to look at history from a different viewpoint. Wagadhaany and her family came alive for me, as did their relationship with country.
This is a beautifully written novel which took me into a world I thought I knew from a new perspective. I liked the way Anita Heiss’s use of Wiradyuri language made me stop to work out meaning from context (there is a glossary included at the end of the book). And while I was working out meaning, I reflected on the impact of European settlement on traditional life. We cannot change the past, but we can learn from it.
Highly recommended.
Note: My thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster Australia for providing me with a free electronic copy of this book for review purposes.
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
March 12, 2022
I listened to this as an audio book - it lends itself very well to this mode of delivery as there’s lots of Wiradjuri language in the novel. We need more books like this.
I really enjoyed the historical elements of the story, and being taken on the journey. I’m not sure about the pace of the novel towards the end - the author tries to wrap things up very quickly. Yet there are elements of the story earlier on that seem to drag on a little. It could’ve been a tad shorter.
3.5 stars
I really enjoyed the historical elements of the story, and being taken on the journey. I’m not sure about the pace of the novel towards the end - the author tries to wrap things up very quickly. Yet there are elements of the story earlier on that seem to drag on a little. It could’ve been a tad shorter.
3.5 stars
July 18, 2021
I enjoyed the history in this book particularly the description of aboriginal history and connection to culture. However I have only given it two stars - probably should be two and a half but I can’t seem to do that. I just found it lacking oomph. Somehow it was just too slow for me. I also wanted to know more about what happened at Gundagai- too much about the marriages for me.
June 18, 2021
Bila Yarrudhanggalangdhuray (Simon and Schuster 2021) by Dr Anita Heiss is such a beautiful book to hold in your hands, with embossed artwork, and the English translation of the title – River of Dreams – on the back cover. This genre-bending novel is a tale of heroism based on true events, an historical account of a natural disaster, a glimpse into Australian black/white relations in the 1800’s, a family drama and a romance. This is a simple, engaging story that reveals complex layers of themes such as racism, feminism, misogyny, female friendship, ambition, greed, environmentalism, belonging and loss. Written with the inclusion of much First Nations language, the book is testament to the wisdom and knowledge of the original inhabitants of this country, an indictment of the colonial invaders who ignored that knowledge at their peril, and a demonstration of the strong connections between Aboriginal people and their country, their totems and their Dreamtime.
Set in Gundagai and then Wagga Wagga around 1852, the inciting event is the flooding of the Murrumbidgee River, a reminder that nature is powerful, and that while the river is life-giving and necessary, it can also sweep away flora, fauna and people too when it swells with flood. For local girl Wagadhaany, the event brings many changes, because although she survives the floods and her father is a hero who saves many of the local white people, it results in her being obliged to move with her white employers to another town, miles away from her family and her people. Although her name means ‘dancer’, she has no desire to dance and no-one to dance for; she is sick with sadness over her grief and loss of the place she has always called home.
When she meets Wiradyuri stockman Yindyamarra, her heart begins to heal, and their slowly blossoming romance is one of the highlights of this story. But as the years go by, she never stops longing for her ancestral home, for the company of her extended family and the familiarity of her country.
Part of this book’s achievement is that the author maintains a fine balance with all the characters in that they are nuanced and believable. While it is never in doubt that the white people have stolen land and treated the Aboriginal people poorly, some of the white characters do have redeeming characteristics. Some of them mean well, even if their actions don’t follow suit. Some of them have lofty ideals and notions of ‘helping’ Aboriginal people, but their ideas are misguided and usually turn out to be more of a hindrance than a help. In this way, the book is a thoughtful exploration of the shades of grey in all of us, and how damage and trauma can be the result not only of direct ill-will, but also of misunderstandings and miscommunications.
In all of these complex examinations of human behaviour, what shines through is Heiss’ generosity of spirit; while she is an avid proponent of First Nations culture, history and language, she also recognises the subtleties of race relations. Most importantly, this book pays homage to those real-life heroes of the Gundagai floods – the Black men who risked their own lives to save the lives of their oppressors. That is the poignancy, the generosity, the kindness that fills this novel with heart.
Set in Gundagai and then Wagga Wagga around 1852, the inciting event is the flooding of the Murrumbidgee River, a reminder that nature is powerful, and that while the river is life-giving and necessary, it can also sweep away flora, fauna and people too when it swells with flood. For local girl Wagadhaany, the event brings many changes, because although she survives the floods and her father is a hero who saves many of the local white people, it results in her being obliged to move with her white employers to another town, miles away from her family and her people. Although her name means ‘dancer’, she has no desire to dance and no-one to dance for; she is sick with sadness over her grief and loss of the place she has always called home.
When she meets Wiradyuri stockman Yindyamarra, her heart begins to heal, and their slowly blossoming romance is one of the highlights of this story. But as the years go by, she never stops longing for her ancestral home, for the company of her extended family and the familiarity of her country.
Part of this book’s achievement is that the author maintains a fine balance with all the characters in that they are nuanced and believable. While it is never in doubt that the white people have stolen land and treated the Aboriginal people poorly, some of the white characters do have redeeming characteristics. Some of them mean well, even if their actions don’t follow suit. Some of them have lofty ideals and notions of ‘helping’ Aboriginal people, but their ideas are misguided and usually turn out to be more of a hindrance than a help. In this way, the book is a thoughtful exploration of the shades of grey in all of us, and how damage and trauma can be the result not only of direct ill-will, but also of misunderstandings and miscommunications.
In all of these complex examinations of human behaviour, what shines through is Heiss’ generosity of spirit; while she is an avid proponent of First Nations culture, history and language, she also recognises the subtleties of race relations. Most importantly, this book pays homage to those real-life heroes of the Gundagai floods – the Black men who risked their own lives to save the lives of their oppressors. That is the poignancy, the generosity, the kindness that fills this novel with heart.
April 11, 2021
Oh I feel so much pressure with this review! I want to do the book justice, but I'm not a writer.
I loved it. I loved it for so many reasons - some of which I will try to explain.
It is the story of the Gundagai flood, but that is really the backdrop to so much more. It is really the story of very early White settlement in Australia, and the devastating (understatement) effects this had on the Indigenous people (the start of it anyway, we all know this continues to this day). It is the story of the Wiradyuri people and how their whole world was taken from them. It is told mostly through the eyes of Wagadhaany - a young girl who is "working for", ie. a slave for a white family in Gundagai and then Wagga Wagga.
Firstly, I LOVED that Anita Heiss used traditional language, not only in the title, but throughout the whole book. Soooo good. (Most words you can understand through context, but there is also a glossary at the back).
I loved the way the story was told weaving facts amongst fiction. It is a fictional story but set amongst the historical facts. It was so educational and I think one of the best books I have read that really demonstrates the relationship Aboriginal people had with the land and within their family groups.
I loved the way the land and settings were described. I could picture the families living at the river, I could see the elder ladies in my mind sitting around the camp, and I could see the dancing and the children. And then I could also feel the pain of the people seeing their land being misused and mistreated and the heartbreak this bought - as well as the physical effects this had when unable to hunt and gather on their own lands.
Lastly - I could honestly go on all day about this book - I loved the characters. Wagadhaany, Yindy, Yarri, and all of the others, even Louisa and the Bradleys. Each had an important role in allowing the story to be told and to show all of the different aspects that were going on at that time.
The more I think about it, the more I realise just how clever it is, and the more I love it.
Argh- I just want everyone to read it! Please read it!
I loved it. I loved it for so many reasons - some of which I will try to explain.
It is the story of the Gundagai flood, but that is really the backdrop to so much more. It is really the story of very early White settlement in Australia, and the devastating (understatement) effects this had on the Indigenous people (the start of it anyway, we all know this continues to this day). It is the story of the Wiradyuri people and how their whole world was taken from them. It is told mostly through the eyes of Wagadhaany - a young girl who is "working for", ie. a slave for a white family in Gundagai and then Wagga Wagga.
Firstly, I LOVED that Anita Heiss used traditional language, not only in the title, but throughout the whole book. Soooo good. (Most words you can understand through context, but there is also a glossary at the back).
I loved the way the story was told weaving facts amongst fiction. It is a fictional story but set amongst the historical facts. It was so educational and I think one of the best books I have read that really demonstrates the relationship Aboriginal people had with the land and within their family groups.
I loved the way the land and settings were described. I could picture the families living at the river, I could see the elder ladies in my mind sitting around the camp, and I could see the dancing and the children. And then I could also feel the pain of the people seeing their land being misused and mistreated and the heartbreak this bought - as well as the physical effects this had when unable to hunt and gather on their own lands.
Lastly - I could honestly go on all day about this book - I loved the characters. Wagadhaany, Yindy, Yarri, and all of the others, even Louisa and the Bradleys. Each had an important role in allowing the story to be told and to show all of the different aspects that were going on at that time.
The more I think about it, the more I realise just how clever it is, and the more I love it.
Argh- I just want everyone to read it! Please read it!
July 9, 2021
Wagadhaany is a young Wiradyuri woman living in Gundagai when the local town is hit with a devastating flood destroying homes and businesses and killing many people. Many of the lives saved were done so by local Wiradyuri men.
The Bradley family James, David and Jame’s new wife Louisa who employ Wagadhaany ( let’s not mince words, it’s slavery) decide to move to Waga Waga and insist on taking Wagadhaany with them.
This is heartbreaking to her as family is everything . But Wagadhaany is a strong woman and she tries to make the best of things. She develops somewhat of a bind with Louisa but there is always the sense that they are not equals. I disliked both Bradley brothers but found it hard to really dislike Louisa despite her hypocrisy towards aboriginals. Saying she wanted equality for them but not always demonstrating it. But Louisa had her own disappointments to face.
She did protect Wagadhaany from the attentions of David Bradley. Through the local Wiradyuri people of Waga Waga Wagadhaany finds solace as well as the man she will fall in love with.
Wagadhaany will face injustice and heartbreak but she will never give in until she can be reunited with the family she left behind in Gundagai.
My actual rating for this book is a high 4.5 but I’m marking it up because the story deserves it.
The only criticism I have is that I’d have liked a pronunciation guide along with the definitions. It felt like a disservice to know I was butchering some of the words. That in know way reflects on the story itself though. This was my first novel by Dr Heiss but certainly not my last.
The Bradley family James, David and Jame’s new wife Louisa who employ Wagadhaany ( let’s not mince words, it’s slavery) decide to move to Waga Waga and insist on taking Wagadhaany with them.
This is heartbreaking to her as family is everything . But Wagadhaany is a strong woman and she tries to make the best of things. She develops somewhat of a bind with Louisa but there is always the sense that they are not equals. I disliked both Bradley brothers but found it hard to really dislike Louisa despite her hypocrisy towards aboriginals. Saying she wanted equality for them but not always demonstrating it. But Louisa had her own disappointments to face.
She did protect Wagadhaany from the attentions of David Bradley. Through the local Wiradyuri people of Waga Waga Wagadhaany finds solace as well as the man she will fall in love with.
Wagadhaany will face injustice and heartbreak but she will never give in until she can be reunited with the family she left behind in Gundagai.
My actual rating for this book is a high 4.5 but I’m marking it up because the story deserves it.
The only criticism I have is that I’d have liked a pronunciation guide along with the definitions. It felt like a disservice to know I was butchering some of the words. That in know way reflects on the story itself though. This was my first novel by Dr Heiss but certainly not my last.
May 19, 2021
Love and loss set on the timeless lands of Wiradyuri country and encompassing all the majesty and terror of the Marrambidya Bila (Murrumbidgee River). Bila Yarrudhanggalangdhuray is a beautifully written love story, that brings a historical focus to a true event. The river flooding of 1852 in Gundagai sets the scene for Heiss to weave a wonderful tale of Wagadhanny, finding her place in a world of white men and always being drawn back to her own people and country. I loved reading the Wiradyuri words, hearing the stories of connection to land, love and respect for country, and seeing history from Wagadhanny's view. Elevating, educational, and emotion charged.
A great read.
A great read.
September 12, 2021
This worthy yet predictable novel staggers under the weight of its didactic intentions as it tells a story of colonial impact from the indigenous perspective. The book is loaded with interesting and important details about Wiradyuri cultural and social practices, which tend to over-whelm and distract from the human stories which form the novel. Some pruning might have improved the balance between the two purposes of the writing.
August 8, 2021
A great story with beautiful use of the Wiradyuri language. The theme of family was so strong and it broke my heart when the story moved to Wagga Wagga. The love story was so sweet. I particularly loved learning about how the land was destroyed by white settlers so early on and the implications for Aboriginal people and the environment.
December 21, 2022
A beautifully written fictionalised account set in Gundagai and Wagga Wagga in the 1850s that describes - through the experiences of the central character, Whiradyuri woman Wagadhaany - how Aboriginal people became separated from the family, culture and lands that they loved and cherished during colonisation. I love the way Anita Heiss weaves in the Wiradyuri language throughout. She describes the significance of that as a celebration and connection to culture and a reclaiming of sovereignty. As she writes in the note at the end, the book seeks to ‘write Wiradyuri heroes … into the Australian narrative where they had been ignored or forgotten for too long.’ A great book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 25, 2023
You should read this if you're into:
Historical fiction, Australian history, history of colonialism, heartbreaking stories of love and loss, characters that come to life on the page.
Historical fiction, Australian history, history of colonialism, heartbreaking stories of love and loss, characters that come to life on the page.
January 9, 2023
This was a surprising read. It was nice to read some of the Wiradjuri language, learn about the history of the Riverina and gain historical insight about land I currently live on.
Heiss made me question the lived experiences of Indigenous Peoples during invasion, and in turn, how I have benefitted from my whiteness (including the fact that I now own some of the land around the Murrumbidgee River and teach many Indigenous students). It also delved into the unspoken slavery that tarnishes Australian history and remains largely unacknowledged; this includes deconstructing white saviour complexes.
Heiss made me question the lived experiences of Indigenous Peoples during invasion, and in turn, how I have benefitted from my whiteness (including the fact that I now own some of the land around the Murrumbidgee River and teach many Indigenous students). It also delved into the unspoken slavery that tarnishes Australian history and remains largely unacknowledged; this includes deconstructing white saviour complexes.
July 8, 2021
‘Now let me tell you a story about your Wiradyuri miyagan, the people of Marrambidya.’
This book is profound. This book is beautiful. This is a must read. Right from the prologue when the indigenous man is trying to tell a white man not to build his house on the floodplain and he ignores the advice … well, it really sets the scene of what you know will come. I LOVE how this is a novel where tables are finally turned and it is the indigenous observing the settlers and thus shedding a whole new light on white occupation. Yet, there is so much more to this novel - commentary not only on the wrongs of the past, or racial issues but what constitutes family, what is success, what is home. As Anita herself says, My goal in writing this novel was to highlight the heroism of the Wiradyuri men who braved the dangerous floods to bring locals to safety.
‘We could teach them a lot, if they just listened,’ Yarri adds.
At surface level this is the story about a young girl,Wagadhanaay, who works for a family in their house (the original family and foundations that were discussed in the prologue!) when the devastating floods come through (as predicted!) The story then goes on to regale the life of Wagadhanaay with both her work and her miyagan (family). I love the contrast between her and Louisa, a Quaker woman, who marries into the Bradley family and insists Wagadhanaay comes with them when they relocate to Wagga Wagga … because after all, it will make her life better.
‘… though she is trying to be understanding through their grief, she resents still being spoken to as the servant, the cleaner, the cook. She hates being the Black woman who just has to do what the White people tell her. She is grateful to be alive, but she hates that being alive reminds her that she is still powerless in her own life.’
There is much to love about this book. I love that Anita used traditional language, not only in the title, but throughout the entire book. I love that it is the perfect melding of fact and fiction. I love the characters and how each has a role to play in making this story the captivating sensation that it is. I love how much I learnt about Australian indigenous people and their great affinity with this incredible land. The land! I love how vivid the locations were presented and you felt the power of the Murrumbidgee River rising or the dust lifting as they danced around the fire.
‘His heart pains at the land being ruined by those who are new to it. They are not taking care of it, they treat it with contempt, as if it is only there for their benefit.’
This book … it will make you angry, it will make you sad but overall you will be a better person for having read it. Such a wonderful book for not only all Australians but anyone interested in Indigenous cultures and their rich yet often tragic tale. A tale that will stay with me for some time to come.
‘Their land has been stolen.’ Louisa’s stops short of yelling. She calms herself and continues. ‘It’s Wiradyuri land.’ She points out the window. ‘We don’t really own this; it is not yours, or mine. And those laws are British laws and should be illegal if they are not protecting Aboriginal people, who should be British citizens.’
This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. The quoted material may have changed in the final release.
May 9, 2021
Thanks to Netgalley for a copy of this book for an honest review.
What a beautifully written piece of literature. The use of Wirudyuri language was seamless and evoked a response I didn't expect. The descriptions of both the landscape and the family relationships was so well written it was easy to feel I was sitting by a river, listening to the water rushing by. My heart broke with the evident discrimination the Indigenous people of this land have faced for generations. A must read!
What a beautifully written piece of literature. The use of Wirudyuri language was seamless and evoked a response I didn't expect. The descriptions of both the landscape and the family relationships was so well written it was easy to feel I was sitting by a river, listening to the water rushing by. My heart broke with the evident discrimination the Indigenous people of this land have faced for generations. A must read!
October 27, 2021
Eighteen months ago I read Tony Burke’s White Girl, a story of an Aboriginal girl and her grandmother. A touching story set in Australia of the 1960s. Heiss’s book appeared to be another fictional story based on fact that further examined the life of Aboriginal people in colonial Australia.
Australians need to read these stories to gain an understanding and appreciation of Aboriginal culture and history. This book will add to the readers ability to understand the Aboriginal world view in 2021. Too often I read comments on social media made by white people who have had little contact with Aboriginal people and who have not listened to their stories.
With this in mind this and similar books should be placed on HSC reading lists.
One of the important themes running through this book is the link between language, culture and identity. So often colonisers have worked at destroying the colonised own language. White people denied Aboriginal people the right to speak their own language. This is starkly portrayed in this book. As a teacher I can remember in the 1970s teachers discouraging migrant children from speaking their parents’ language.
As I got into this book and the story unfolded and the characters showed themselves I thought it had a Bronte or Austen feel. It had a somewhat melodramatic feel and the characters were nineteenth century versions of people from Home and Away or Neighbours. As the story unfolded the complexities of black and white relationships and the colonial setting took the story to a higher level.
The story begins with the Gundagai flood of 1852 and the heroic deeds of two Aboriginal men. One of these men, Yarri, has a daughter Wagadhanaay, and the story centres around her life as a servant for a Squatter family who move from Gundagai to Wagga Wagga. Wagadhaany develops a close relationship with the wife of the squatter, Louisa Bradley. Theirs is an interesting relationship. (It would be interesting exploring this relationship with students.) Wagadhaany takes a partner, Yindyamarra
and then has children. The story takes Wagadhaany through her contact with the white world and her longing to return to her own mob back in Gundagai. Throughout the text Heiss uses Wiradjuri words.
I think the “message” of this book, especially to Aboriginal people, is to value their own history and cultural, and where possible their language, but also develop the skills to survive and thrive in a world dominated by white people and their culture.
Australians need to read these stories to gain an understanding and appreciation of Aboriginal culture and history. This book will add to the readers ability to understand the Aboriginal world view in 2021. Too often I read comments on social media made by white people who have had little contact with Aboriginal people and who have not listened to their stories.
With this in mind this and similar books should be placed on HSC reading lists.
One of the important themes running through this book is the link between language, culture and identity. So often colonisers have worked at destroying the colonised own language. White people denied Aboriginal people the right to speak their own language. This is starkly portrayed in this book. As a teacher I can remember in the 1970s teachers discouraging migrant children from speaking their parents’ language.
As I got into this book and the story unfolded and the characters showed themselves I thought it had a Bronte or Austen feel. It had a somewhat melodramatic feel and the characters were nineteenth century versions of people from Home and Away or Neighbours. As the story unfolded the complexities of black and white relationships and the colonial setting took the story to a higher level.
The story begins with the Gundagai flood of 1852 and the heroic deeds of two Aboriginal men. One of these men, Yarri, has a daughter Wagadhanaay, and the story centres around her life as a servant for a Squatter family who move from Gundagai to Wagga Wagga. Wagadhaany develops a close relationship with the wife of the squatter, Louisa Bradley. Theirs is an interesting relationship. (It would be interesting exploring this relationship with students.) Wagadhaany takes a partner, Yindyamarra
and then has children. The story takes Wagadhaany through her contact with the white world and her longing to return to her own mob back in Gundagai. Throughout the text Heiss uses Wiradjuri words.
I think the “message” of this book, especially to Aboriginal people, is to value their own history and cultural, and where possible their language, but also develop the skills to survive and thrive in a world dominated by white people and their culture.
December 29, 2022
It’s NAIDOC week in Australia, so it was the perfect time to read Bila Yarrudhanggalangdhuray, the first Australian novel to be released commercially with a title in Wiradjuri language. I’ve enjoyed other books by Anita Heiss, and I’ve been excited to dive into this one!
Some things I loved:
📚 The use of Wiradjuri words throughout the book was wonderful! This promotes the use of traditional language, and the glossary became very useful in discovering word meanings when context wasn’t enough.
📚 The language was vivid, and I could easily imagine the bila, the floods, and the scrublands described throughout the book. The connection that the protagonist and her miyagan have with the land is shown in a deeply beautiful way.
📚 Heiss doesn’t shy away from detailing the heartache, resentment, anger, or love of the protagonist. We as readers get a full range of emotions that are involved as she, an indigenous woman, is ripped away from her family, is spoken down to, and is treated like a creature that is less than human. We feel her helplessness and strength as she struggles through racist acts and comments, as she deals with the loss of her family, and as she is forced to remain quiet and respectful on the outside while raging on the inside.
📚 We get clear examples of allies with good intentions that have glaringly huge blind spots and hypocrisies. They have the privilege of loosening up on their convictions, while marginalized people do not have the same freedom. We also get a good look at those who actively pursued a colonized civilization where indigenous people groups were essentially stripped of their rights and even forced into slavery.
📚 While this is a work of fiction, some real life events and people are detailed through events of the book. I learned a lot, both through the book and through further research I did on the topics and events brought up while reading.
This is not an easy read, but it is an incredibly important one. I was engaged throughout and felt my emotions being tugged in every direction as the story progressed. I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys historical fiction!
Some things I loved:
📚 The use of Wiradjuri words throughout the book was wonderful! This promotes the use of traditional language, and the glossary became very useful in discovering word meanings when context wasn’t enough.
📚 The language was vivid, and I could easily imagine the bila, the floods, and the scrublands described throughout the book. The connection that the protagonist and her miyagan have with the land is shown in a deeply beautiful way.
📚 Heiss doesn’t shy away from detailing the heartache, resentment, anger, or love of the protagonist. We as readers get a full range of emotions that are involved as she, an indigenous woman, is ripped away from her family, is spoken down to, and is treated like a creature that is less than human. We feel her helplessness and strength as she struggles through racist acts and comments, as she deals with the loss of her family, and as she is forced to remain quiet and respectful on the outside while raging on the inside.
📚 We get clear examples of allies with good intentions that have glaringly huge blind spots and hypocrisies. They have the privilege of loosening up on their convictions, while marginalized people do not have the same freedom. We also get a good look at those who actively pursued a colonized civilization where indigenous people groups were essentially stripped of their rights and even forced into slavery.
📚 While this is a work of fiction, some real life events and people are detailed through events of the book. I learned a lot, both through the book and through further research I did on the topics and events brought up while reading.
This is not an easy read, but it is an incredibly important one. I was engaged throughout and felt my emotions being tugged in every direction as the story progressed. I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys historical fiction!
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