Clancy of the Overflow

The Matilda Saga #9

by Jackie French

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

Genres: Historical Fiction, Young Adult, Audiobook, Historical, Drama, Australia, Fiction

448 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2019

About the author

Jackie is an award-winning writer, wombat negotiator and the Australian Children’s Laureate for 2014-2015. She is regarded as one of Australia’s most popular children’s authors, and writes across all genres - from picture books, history, fantasy, ecology and sci-fi to her much loved historical fiction. In her capacity as Australian Children’s Laureate, ‘Share a Story’ will be the primary philosophy behind Jackie’s two-year term.

Reviews

[Natty · Rating 5 out of 5]

Woooaaah Jackie!!

Now that was a ride...The final story from Gibber's Creek and did it deliver... Thank you for this whole series 'The Matilda Saga' is a definite favourite of mine. And while Clancy of the Overflow was the final piece of a beautifully interlocked puzzle of stories, it won't be the final time I will read it. In fact any and all the books will be read over and over again. I'll definitely make sure to visit the Gibber's Creek locals, they are like old friends now.

I have to wonder about Jed Kelly and how much of your life is imparted on hers, in her previous narratives it didn't seem to obvious to me, but in this final book, there are some similar circumstances shared, like writing stories on a typewriter, there being a wombat called Batbat who demands carrots, her rough start to life, even Jed had the moon landing narrative earlier on, where your hubby was?!..I am very curious how much of you is imparted on Jed? By the way, it doesn't take anything away from the story, I think if anything it adds to it. Plus the uni student in me clearly has studied your work and you in a way closely, maybe that's why I ask...

But I digress, I loved the story of Clancy of the Overflow told by his granddaughter Nancy, she embodies strength in so many ways, from the trauma she suffered, the love of her country and people, the love from Michael, her boys and her family, the knowing of who she is...always.
I appreciate how you approach the confronting facts of our history, the fact that you do confront those aspects the pure ugliness of it with respect makes these narratives authentic.

You have spoken about this saga being a long love letter to Australia and its history, you speak of it as a whole, but are willing to acknowledge all of it, the good, the bad and the ugly.... its a true unconditional kind of love that you have written... not just the romance of Australia.

Thank you for putting women back into history, and for writing a true love letter of Australian history, it provides much food for thought and allows new conversations to start and be fostered, and these conversations are so important today just as they were back in our past...

Natty

[Alexa Blart, Library Cop · Rating 4 out of 5]

What do I even say about this? It really feels like this is the last one (though, in fairness, so did If Blood Should Stain the Wattle, and there were three more books after that!) and that is so not okay with me on so many levels.

The Matilda Saga is so completely tied up with my own time in Australia as to be nearly inextricable. I can remember exactly where I was when I read the first six books: on the bus, at the beach, in the city center, on the train, at Echo Point in the Blue Mountains. I can remember frantically trying to finish the library's copy of Facing the Flame before my flight back to the US the following morning—a flight I would have given anything not to take. And I remember most especially reading The Last Dingo Summer and now Clancy of the Overflow on my Kindle, because you can't find these books in the US ANYWHERE, and feeling so terribly homesick but also delighted by all the familiar place names, local expressions, and references to Australian foods (Jackie French LOVES to describe the food) that were like comfort.

Also, the two children dancing on the riverbank to while the distant wedding party sings "Waltzing Matilda" at the very end? Very nearly broke me in half, thank you very much.

"And the bush hath friends to meet him, and their kindly voices greet him
In the murmur of the breezes and the river on its bars
And he sees the vision splendid of the sunlit plains extended
And at night the wond'rous glory of the everlasting stars."

Thank you, Jackie French, for making me, an outsider, feel so intimately connected to a place I love with my entire heart.

[Kathryn Hetherington · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful ending to this magnificent series.

[Tiarna Georghiou · Rating 5 out of 5]

Follow my blog here! https://thebookmermaids.blogspot.com/...

The legacy of Matilda, Nancy, Jed and now Rose and Clancy will live on past the closing of this book. It truly was a magical way to end the saga. This series is about more than just the stories and legends that shaped our country, but the land itself and the stories that it tells. Truly a magical, magical book that I will forever hold close to my heart.

[Maya · Rating 4 out of 5]

this book grew on me

[Judy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jackie French has done it again, Another brilliant story from a brilliant storyteller.
Although the title is given to the well-known male character from the Banjo Paterson poem, strong female characters also get starring roles. Flora and Rose (1860s - early 1900s), and Nancy, Jed and Scarlett (1979 - 1988) French refers to many of the characters from earlier episodes of the Matilda Sage - this is the ninth in the series - and she allows more recent characters to grow and develop through the highs and challenges they confront.
As one reviewer noted "This is not just a love story, but a story about love in many different forms." The love between families and friends; the love and respect of people for the land; it shows a give and take relationship as demonstrated by the Aboriginal peoples - the land gives food and water, and we take that, but only as we need it, being careful not to abuse it.
I have read all the previous books in the series. Each book had a stand alone story that I enjoyed. Though not having read all the others in order, I was able to enjoy them and relate to the characters as the author included enough information. I now plan to reread them in order to get a better idea of the timelines.
Jackie French is a master at telling history through fiction. Although this is the conclusion of the Matilda series, I hope she will find another source of inspiration for a new series.
Highly recommended for those who love historical fiction and a good read.

[Kit · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ok, so there was a fair few parts in this book that were not clean reading, which I don't like, so I'm going to ignore them in this review, just like I skipped them in the book when I could. I wonder if they were included simply because the time frame of story is more modern or if most readers who started this series in the YA section are adults now.

I loved all the snippets and recipes at the beginning of each chapter, I would always read through them at the end too, so that great.

It's so interesting to see all these characters progressing more towards modern day and modern issues. I love seeing them all in different stages of life each book.

Rose as a character I loved being introduced to. And seeing a different side to Banjo Patterson! Even though Jed said in her book that she wanted it to be about Rose but it turned into a Clancy book, this book started as a Clancy book, but for me, I felt it was more a rose book.

Maria was awesome too, she was an amazing character.

And I loved that there was more included about the land, and information about it, I find it all so fascinating, and important, while realising that much of it, I will never know.

I'm guessing the next book will be about Mattie and Clancy, and in a way, be the 'never was' between their namesakes.

[Rachel Coutinho · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! What a beautiful story! Jackie French has seemingly effortlessly weaved this story about Clancy of the Overflow from Banjo Patterson's poem into a moving tale that is ultimately a love story - of the land and the people on it. This story made me laugh and cry with it's rich detail of the Australian bush and stories of the inhabitants of the land.

I had no idea this was part of a saga. I cannot wait to read the earlier books!

[Joy Norman · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought the book was really well written. It kept my attention and I started to see things quite differently than I'd thought before. Unfortunately there is always a certain amount of tragedy, bias and mistakes made that often can't be changed however in that we can also see subtle changes . Attitudes to the aboriginal people was appalling however so it was for a lot of other people. Sexism comes to the for, racism,class system and ignorance really stands out and I thought Clancy met droving was great. Of course his poor wife brought out from England didn't understand Australia at all, even though she was not nice I did feel sorry for her . the book and the way it was written and presented made it very enjoyable

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, just wow

[Erin Milham · Rating 5 out of 5]

I hope this series never ends

[Juliette · Rating 5 out of 5]

Upsi j'ai commencé par le dernier tome d'une série (trouvé dans une boitr à livre). L'histoire croisée d'une famille au XIX et XX siècle en Australie.

[Nicole West · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was a wonderful ending, but I did not want it to end, but number nine in the series.

Jed Kelly is writing, and her daughter Maddy is growing up. Scarlet finds her path life.

Loved the story ❤️

[Maddie · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Matilda Saga is probably my favourite series of all time and Clancy of the Overflow was a great way to finish it. The story lines, the characters and the writing are all excellent and the books teach you a lot about Australian history too. Every book in this series I have read start to finish within 1-2 days because they are so enjoyable and captivating. Highly recommend.

[Lindy Shaw · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great story from such a prolific and talented Australian author. Each chapter follows a succession of Clancy and his descendants from 1880’s through to 1980’s. Wonderful and moving story that also describes the living and social conditions in late 1800’s Australian history. Unfortunately much of it very disturbing.

[Lyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have enjoyed this series, but wish I had read them closer together. Although this book stands alone quite well, sometimes it would be nice to know the back stories from previous books. Even a family tree might help. Great to see someone tackling racism, disabilities and environmental issues. A joyous story of Australia.

[Alyce Caswell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Part-prequel and part-epilogue for the characters we love, this is a fitting conclusion to the Matilda Saga. I cannot praise this series enough. If you were waiting for the next Australian masterpiece, Jackie French has written nine of them.

EDIT: Slept on this and realised I'm still not happy with French's attempts to include LGBTQIA+ characters (she has been trying in some books, I've noticed - and not doing well). I'd rather she didn't bother if they're people we didn't properly "meet" (one throwaway couple) or a character who definitely wasn't portrayed as gay until the last possible moment. It was also a weird thing to quickly insert into a scene from that era without a single mention of how frightening it was at the time to be a gay man.

That said, I still love, LOVE the series. But French really needs to improve here - or ignore it completely.

[Angela · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great book ending of the Matilda saga.

[lila · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just a quick tip: don't start reading the last book in the series and then stop halfway through, trying to savour it, then read it some more, then stop again trying to savour it, and then end up not really enjoying it as much or experiencing the book properly because you were trying to savour it as the last book in the series!... because that's what happened to me. 😔

I can barely even remeber what this book is about. I do remember, however, that I wasn't that interested in the Rose/Clancy parts of the book, I just wanted to know what happened with Sam and Jed... I think I skipped ahead at some parts because I wanted to see Sam's recovery and the rebuilding of their relationship more, not read about Clancy and Rose (but then I went back, don't worry). I also think that this series now holds more nostalgia for me than actual enjoyment, which is a pity. I do love Jackie French's host of characters and her confidence to talk about difficult issues though, as well as how she writes about Australia. I also like that we keep the characters from 5 and 6 books back, I think it makes a great series to have so many characters that are continually part of the story.

[Esther Creagh · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good book and a much needed revival of plot from further back in history: I e. My way of saying that I found the books in the series getting progressively less enjoyable as they got closer to present day, particularly not enjoying books with Jed in them as much as those prior to that point. I kept going due to wanting to complete the series and was rewarded for that because this book was a big improvement on book 8. Would I recommend reading the series : yes absolutely especially the first few books and then perhaps taking longer breaks between books than what I did as that might make them more enjoyable and the strong female characters might feel better distinguished from each other if more time was taken between reading each book. Overall I continue to be a big fan of Jackie French and her efforts to create books with a strong sense of connection to Australia and women.

[Susan C · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book, even though there seemed to be a couple pieces of the story missing. Little did I know it was part of a series - silly me .

This book spoke to me on many levels, yes it was the reimagined story of the man behind the Banjo Patterson poem - but it was also the story of early settlers' treatment of indigenous populations, the 'lot' of women in Colonial Australia, the ill treatment of mixed marriages and half caste children, the loss of culture, and the sheer bloody hard work it was to survive and prosper in those times.

Through out the book, I wonder how much of Jackie French's own personality was creeping in with some of the main characters. I loved the fact there was a wombat, who lived under the house and ate carrots and that Jed wrote a children's book about it.

I think some of the themes in this book will stay with me for a long time and I look forward to starting at the beginning of the series.

[Ali Bush · Rating 5 out of 5]

The last of 9 books in this series. I have read one after another,and now feel a little lost,that there is not another book
I love the way that our history, before white settlement, How to read the land and to listen to what it is telling you , How settlement by the Anglo Saxon’s brought both good and bad elements
I could see the country side in my mind and it was near where I grew up The experience of flooding,drought and everything in between
Anyone who loves the land our history and culture,should love this series

[Debbie Harris · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm actually quite sad that I have now finished the Matilda Saga as it has been a wonderful 9 book series that told me stories, history, kept me entertained, made me cry and laugh. This last one was a great tribute to Rose, (Clancy's wife) and told her story well along with setting my mind at rest about many of the other characters I've come to love during the series. I introduced this series to my mother in her mid 80s, and she also loved reading them all. So much history told in a wonderful fictional series.

[Jacinta · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found it hard to follow all the characters in this historical novel, that flashed from the 1860's to the 1980's. That it is the last book of nine explains why! The stories of two wives from the 1860's provided rich details about womens' lives from a time in history that is usually very sketchy. I am not sure that I could manage the whole series, but would recommend it to young adults who are keen.

[Glenda Heugh · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a hard one to put down

If you haven’t read all the Matilda books - read them first. The series moves from the 1800s to the 1980s, as experienced through the lives of two major protagonist families. This one was primarily based in the 1980s (quite the flashback experience). The books richly describe Australia and the characters that move through the landscape and their lives. Loved all of them and hope there is one more book (at least). Enjoy!!!

[Margie Thomas · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have loved this series and learnt so much of Australia’s history through the wonderful female perspective. While so much is utterly and wholly Australian, there are similar attitudes, recipes and struggles, I can relate to and recognise from NZ history. Thanks Jackie French. More up come???hard to leave these characters behind.

[SWC · Rating 4 out of 5]

Once more I appreciated the recipes and other relevant information which was provided at the start of each chapter. An enthralling history of a family and descendants with specific examples separated by about 100 years. Much research must have been done to supply the many varied examples which were included.

[Bobbs · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is another wonderfully written, engaging and enlightening books by Jackie French. I was completely engage and enjoyed reading this, not knowing it was the last of a series! STILL a wonderful read and now I want to find the rest of the series! Warning: don’t start reading a Jackie French book unless you make the time to finish it- hers are very hard to put down!

[Cassie Morton · Rating 1 out of 5]

I really would have loved this book if it hadn't had dirty things in it. This is not a clean book; I also didn't like jumping from character to character to character. Also, the time change and the fact that we see the story from so many points of view were a bit confusing. I really would not recommend this book to anyone.

[Heidi · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a beautiful way to wrap up such a long and wonderful story.
Jackie French is the greatest of story tellers and I will read and re-read this book (and the whole series) for years and years to come.