Secret Life of Books: Kate Grenville on The Secret River

“A secret river of blood runs through Australian history” W.H Stanner

Celebrate and reflect on 25 years since publication of The Secret River in this special Sydney Writers’ Festival edition of the Secret Life of Books podcast.

The Australian classic, set in the early 19th century on the Hawkesbury River, reveals the violent conflict on what was then a frontier between British colonisers and Australia’s First Nations people. Based on author Kate Grenville’s own family history, and the stolen land that made her convict ancestor Solomon Wiseman a wealthy man, the book caused major controversy upon publication. It has since won literary prizes and seen several acclaimed TV and stage adaptations.

Kate hosts Jonty Claypole and Sophie Gee to go beyond the page to reveal the motives, stakes, backstory and the indisputable history behind the classic Australian novel we thought we knew.