Do you know what a shiralee is? I didn’t until I read this book. It is a somewhat old-fashioned slang word used in the rural Australian outback, to describe the encumbering load that a traveller was carrying. The title will soon become clear if you give this book a try, which, by the way, I highly recommend that you do.

First published in Australia in 1955, The Shiralee tells the story of Macauley, a gruff, rugged, and hardy man in his mid thirties. Rather nomadic by nature, his journey on foot through New South Wales is a constant search for work to keep him going until his next stop. If he was alone, Macauley would have considered this a relatively easy and even desirable life, but he has the complication of a newly acquired four-year-old daughter in tow. Macauley feels little but resentment towards his child who initially seems to be nothing more than a burden. However, as the story progresses, a touching relationship between the two unravels itself, and when Macauley realises on more than occasion that his daughter might be taken from him, his true feelings start to become apparent.

Reminiscent of the great 20^th century travelling literature of John Steinbeck’s Of Mice and Men and The Grapes of Wrath, The Shiralee depicts of journey of living a simple, day-to-day existence. While the reader is introduced to unforgiving, barren landscapes, scarce food supplies, and only a starlit sky for shelter, it would be easy to expect that this is going to be a depressing, lonely depiction of a struggle to survive. In Macauley, however, Niland cleverly creates a character who may be tough and uncomplicated on the outside, and far from nurturing towards his child, but who is deeply likeable. I cannot help thinking that not many writers could pull this off so effectively.

Although set in the first half of the 1950s, this book seems to harp back to a much earlier time. A lot to do with Macauley’s simplistic way of living and his avoidance of heavily populated areas, it would be easy to think that The Shiralee could have been set several decades beforehand. In a way, this gives it a feel of being a timeless classic, and when the true meaning of the book is determined, it is a message that does indeed transcend any timeline.

Throughout Macauley’s journey, several of his old friends and acquaintances are introduced, as well as new people he meets along the way. Through D’Arcy Niland’s skilful and fluid writing, complete with unpredictable storyline developments, these characters help to ensure that any potential monotony  is avoided. Offering a range of good, bad, and damaged individuals, a charismatic picture is painted of the Australian people and their way of life.

I am very pleased to say that my first foray into Australian literature has proved to be a big success. Steady yet surprising, and practical yet sentimental, The Shiralee is well worth a try for just about anyone.

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