Reading order
| # | Title | Published | Author | Buy on Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Secret River | 2005 | Kate Grenville | Buy |
| 2 | The Lieutenant | 2007 | Kate Grenville | Buy |
| 3 | Sarah Thornhill | 2011 | Kate Grenville | Buy |
The Thornhill Family trilogy is Kate Grenville’s most acclaimed work. The Secret River (2005) follows William Thornhill, an English convict transported to New South Wales in the early 1800s. He takes up land on the Hawkesbury River, bringing him into conflict with the Aboriginal people who already live there. The book was shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize.
The Lieutenant (2007) tells the story of Daniel Rooke, a young officer in the First Fleet who befriends an Aboriginal girl and faces a moral crisis when ordered to take part in a punitive expedition. Sarah Thornhill (2011) returns to the Thornhill family in the next generation, as William’s granddaughter uncovers family secrets tied to the colonial violence of previous decades.