From Australia's best-loved storyteller comes the final book in the bestselling Matilda Saga This is a love song to our nation, told in a single sweeping story Jed Kelly has finally persuaded her great aunt Nancy to tell the story of her grandparents. The tale that unfolds is one of Australia's greatest romances - that of Clancy of the Overflow, who gave up everything for Rose, the woman he adored, and yet still gained all he'd lost and more. But Nancy's story is not the history that Jed expects. More tales lurk behind the folklore that surrounds Clancy - the stories of the women hidden in Australia's long history, who forged a nation and whose voices need to be heard. It is also a story of many kinds of love. Clancy's growing passion for the bush, immortalised in Paterson's poem, which speaks to him in the ripple of the river and the song of the stars, and Nancy's need to pass on her deep understanding of her country. But perhaps the most moving love story of all is the one that never happened, between Matilda O'Halloran and Clancy of the Overflow. And as Jed brings all of these stories to life in her book, Matilda and Clancy will once again waltz beside the river and the forgotten will be given a new voice. PRAISE FOR THE MATILDA SAGA 'An engrossing mystery story, an ode to strong women, and a moving exploration of the private wounds we carry ... The Last Dingo Summer is a must for your summer reading list' -- Better Reading 'The perfect read for anyone who loves immersing themselves in Australian fiction. Gripping, emotional and moving, Facing the Flame is a great book to curl up with' -- New Idea 'Highly recommended ... this was a complete binge, read in one night because it was just too good and too gripping to put down ... a cracking story filled with rich characters both old and new and imbued with all that we hold dear about Australian love of country and mateship' -- ReadPlus

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In a dead-end town like Barwen a girl only has to be a little different to feel like a freak. And Clancy, a typical sixteen-year-old misfit with a moderately dysfunctional family, a genuine interest in Nature Club and a major crush on the local hot girl, is packing a capital F. As the summer begins, Clancy's dad is involved in a road smash that kills two local teenagers. While the family is dealing with the reaction of a hostile town, Clancy meets someone who could possibly—at last—become a friend. Not only that, the unattainable Sasha starts to show what may be a romantic interest. In short, this is the summer when Clancy has to figure out who the hell she is. Christopher Currie is a writer and bookseller from Brisbane, whose fiction has appeared in anthologies and journals internationally. His first book, a novel for adults called The Ottoman Motel, was shortlisted for the Commonwealth Book Prize and the Queensland Literary Awards in 2012. Clancy of the Undertow is his first novel for young adults. ‘Clancy of the Undertow is a beautiful story...It’s about the importance of fitting in or, failing that, finding someone to not fit in with.’ Books & Publishing ‘[A] starkly realist depiction of life for teenagers who feel at odds with the small towns in which they live. Clancy’s biting sense of humour will have readers laughing despite some heavy themes.’ Readings ‘Currie’s storytelling reminded me of Robert Drewe and Raymond Carver...Currie may not have consciously set out to write a YA novel—but I’m glad he found 15-year-old Clancy, and I hope he comes back to this readership who will welcome any new words from him with open arms.’ Alpha Reader ‘A beautiful cover is matched by terrific story-telling in this coming-of-age story of the smart and funny, Clancy. Funny and heartfelt and perfect for the over 15s.’ Book Birdy ‘Clancy of the Undertow demanded a slow, savoured read.’ Alpha Reader, Favourite Books of 2015 ‘A compelling coming-of-age story set in a dead-end Queensland town that’s imbued with warmth, empathy and real wit...Currie has a talent for keeping his writing real. From the dialogue to narration, Clancy of the Undertow blends the excruciation, confusion and hope of being a teenager into a novel that will pull in readers of any age.’ Guardian ‘So real it hurts...All the Aussie references are just ace.’ Dolly ‘In short, if I could, I would throw free copies of this book from the rooftops just to get them into the hands of every young adult reader in the world.’ Hazel and Wren ‘A shining example of the power of Young Adult literature...No matter what age you are, read it, it’s wonderful and engaging and I could hardly bear to put it down to go to work.’ Incredible Rambling Emily ‘A terrific YA book with lots of appeal. Clancy is a completely believable character, a smart, confused, tomboyish teenager who’s struggling to find her identity.’ Herald Sun ‘This brand spanking new Australian novel has been mentioned in hushed tones alongside adolescent stalwart To Kill a Mockingbird. A better, almost equally impressive, comparison would be Jasper Jones.’ Weekly Review ‘Christopher Currie has captured the spirit of an Australian teen struggling to find her feet within judgmental, small town prejudice.’ Diva Booknerds ‘It’s great to see a LGBT book that is also authentic in portraying small town Australian life.’ Magpies ‘Christopher Currie’s writing has already been compared to John Green...An honest portrayal rather than the glossed-over version of teenage life, friendship, family, and love.’ Bustle ‘This book is wonderfully written with beautiful characterisation and I fell in love with it.’ Reading Lark ‘This Australian import has already made waves overseas and is now coming to captivate the States—Christopher Currie's writing has already been compared to John Green, if that's any indication. It feels realistic, opting for an honest portrayal rather than the glossed-over version of teenage life, friendship, family, and love.’ Bustle ‘As soon as I picked it up, I asked myself why I’d ever waited this long to read such a realistic and moving book which will become one of the most-loved Aussie YA books of our generation...Clancy of the Undertow is brilliant in many ways, but the way Christopher Currie has captured genuine family dynamics as well as the voice of a teen who’s struggling to find her place in a small, judgmental Australian town is what makes this novel a must-read.’ Written Word Worlds ‘Currie does very well at getting inside a teenaged girl’s head, presenting an authentic voice for Clancy. As he says in the acknowledgments at the end, ‘if it helps just one person understand that being young is being confused, and that things do get better, and that none of us really know what we’re doing, then this whole process will have been worth it.’ This is what good young adult fiction can do, and this one is just that.’ The Big Book Club

Collection of 'Banjo' Paterson's poetry evoking the rough life and values of Australia's outback.

The fascinating lives and turbulent times of Henry Lawson and Andrew 'Banjo' Paterson - the two men who wrote Australia's story. Today most of us know that Henry Lawson and Andrew 'Banjo' Paterson were famous writers. We know about Matilda, Clancy of the Overflow and the Man from Snowy River; The Drover's Wife, While the Billy Boils and Joe Wilson and his mates, but little else. Here, in a compelling and engaging work, James Knight brings Henry and Banjo's own stories to life. And there is much to tell. Both were country born, just three years and three hundred kilometres apart, Henry on the goldfields of Grenfell and Banjo on a property near Orange, but their paths to literary immortality took very different routes - indeed at times their lives were ones of savage and all too tragic contrasts. Banjo, born into a life of comparative privilege, would rise from country boy to Sydney Grammar student, solicitor, journalist, war correspondent and revered man about town. Henry's formal education only began when his feminist mother finally won her battle for a local school but illness and subsequent deafness would make continuing his lessons difficult, seeing him find work as a labourer, a coach painter and a journalist, all the while wrestling with poverty, alcoholism and mental illness. Both men would become household names during their lifetimes. Both would have regrets. Henry and Banjo details two incredibly fascinating lives and delves into the famous (and not so famous) writings of the two men who had the power to influence and change Australia.