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The Dickens Boy: A Novel
The award-winning author of modern classics such as Schindler’s List and Napoleon’s Last Island is at his triumphant best with this “engrossing and transporting” (Financial Times) novel about the adventures of Charles Dickens’s son in the Australian Outback during the 1860s.
Edward Dickens, the tenth child of England’s most famous author Charles Dickens, has consistently let his parents down. Unable to apply himself at school and adrift in life, the teenaged boy is sent to Australia in the hopes that he can make something of himself—or at least fail out of the public eye.
He soon finds himself in the remote Outback, surrounded by Aboriginals, colonials, ex-convicts, ex-soldiers, and very few women. Determined to prove to his parents and more importantly, himself, that he can succeed in this vast and unfamiliar wilderness, Edward works hard at his new life amidst various livestock, bushrangers, shifty stock agents, and frontier battles.
By reimagining the tale of a fascinating yet little-known figure in history, this “roguishly tender coming-of-age story” (Booklist) offers penetrating insights into Colonialism and the fate of Australia’s indigenous people, and a wonderfully intimate portrait of Charles Dickens, as seen through the eyes of his son.
Edward Dickens, the tenth child of England’s most famous author Charles Dickens, has consistently let his parents down. Unable to apply himself at school and adrift in life, the teenaged boy is sent to Australia in the hopes that he can make something of himself—or at least fail out of the public eye.
He soon finds himself in the remote Outback, surrounded by Aboriginals, colonials, ex-convicts, ex-soldiers, and very few women. Determined to prove to his parents and more importantly, himself, that he can succeed in this vast and unfamiliar wilderness, Edward works hard at his new life amidst various livestock, bushrangers, shifty stock agents, and frontier battles.
By reimagining the tale of a fascinating yet little-known figure in history, this “roguishly tender coming-of-age story” (Booklist) offers penetrating insights into Colonialism and the fate of Australia’s indigenous people, and a wonderfully intimate portrait of Charles Dickens, as seen through the eyes of his son.
412 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 8, 2022
251 people are currently reading
1620 people want to read
About the author
Thomas Keneally
117 books1,262 followersThomas Michael Keneally, AO (born 7 October 1935) is an Australian novelist, playwright and author of non-fiction. He is best known for writing Schindler's Ark, the Booker Prize-winning novel of 1982, which was inspired by the efforts of Poldek Pfefferberg, a Holocaust survivor. The book would later be adapted to Steven Spielberg's Schindler's List (1993), which won the Academy Award for Best Picture.
Often published under the name Tom Keneally in Australia.
Life and Career:
Born in Sydney, Keneally was educated at St Patrick's College, Strathfield, where a writing prize was named after him. He entered St Patrick's Seminary, Manly to train as a Catholic priest but left before his ordination. He worked as a Sydney schoolteacher before his success as a novelist, and he was a lecturer at the University of New England (1968–70). He has also written screenplays, memoirs and non-fiction books.
Keneally was known as "Mick" until 1964 but began using the name Thomas when he started publishing, after advice from his publisher to use what was really his first name. He is most famous for his Schindler's Ark (1982) (later republished as Schindler's List), which won the Booker Prize and is the basis of the film Schindler's List (1993). Many of his novels are reworkings of historical material, although modern in their psychology and style.
Keneally has also acted in a handful of films. He had a small role in The Chant of Jimmie Blacksmith (based on his novel) and played Father Marshall in the Fred Schepisi movie, The Devil's Playground (1976) (not to be confused with a similarly-titled documentary by Lucy Walker about the Amish rite of passage called rumspringa).
In 1983, he was made an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO). He is an Australian Living Treasure.
He is a strong advocate of the Australian republic, meaning the severing of all ties with the British monarchy, and published a book on the subject in Our Republic (1993). Several of his Republican essays appear on the web site of the Australian Republican Movement.
Keneally is a keen supporter of rugby league football, in particular the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles club of the NRL. He made an appearance in the rugby league drama film The Final Winter (2007).
In March 2009, the Prime Minister of Australia, Kevin Rudd, gave an autographed copy of Keneally's Lincoln biography to President Barack Obama as a state gift.
Most recently Thomas Keneally featured as a writer in the critically acclaimed Australian drama, Our Sunburnt Country.
Thomas Keneally's nephew Ben is married to the former NSW Premier, Kristina Keneally.
Often published under the name Tom Keneally in Australia.
Life and Career:
Born in Sydney, Keneally was educated at St Patrick's College, Strathfield, where a writing prize was named after him. He entered St Patrick's Seminary, Manly to train as a Catholic priest but left before his ordination. He worked as a Sydney schoolteacher before his success as a novelist, and he was a lecturer at the University of New England (1968–70). He has also written screenplays, memoirs and non-fiction books.
Keneally was known as "Mick" until 1964 but began using the name Thomas when he started publishing, after advice from his publisher to use what was really his first name. He is most famous for his Schindler's Ark (1982) (later republished as Schindler's List), which won the Booker Prize and is the basis of the film Schindler's List (1993). Many of his novels are reworkings of historical material, although modern in their psychology and style.
Keneally has also acted in a handful of films. He had a small role in The Chant of Jimmie Blacksmith (based on his novel) and played Father Marshall in the Fred Schepisi movie, The Devil's Playground (1976) (not to be confused with a similarly-titled documentary by Lucy Walker about the Amish rite of passage called rumspringa).
In 1983, he was made an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO). He is an Australian Living Treasure.
He is a strong advocate of the Australian republic, meaning the severing of all ties with the British monarchy, and published a book on the subject in Our Republic (1993). Several of his Republican essays appear on the web site of the Australian Republican Movement.
Keneally is a keen supporter of rugby league football, in particular the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles club of the NRL. He made an appearance in the rugby league drama film The Final Winter (2007).
In March 2009, the Prime Minister of Australia, Kevin Rudd, gave an autographed copy of Keneally's Lincoln biography to President Barack Obama as a state gift.
Most recently Thomas Keneally featured as a writer in the critically acclaimed Australian drama, Our Sunburnt Country.
Thomas Keneally's nephew Ben is married to the former NSW Premier, Kristina Keneally.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 216 reviews
February 26, 2022
"...It is my comfort and my sincere conviction that you are going to try the life for which you are best fitted. I think its freedom and wildness more suited to you...I therefore exhort you to persevere in a thorough determination to do whatever you have to do as well as you can do it...".
-Letter from Charles Dickens to son Plorn, upon Plorn's departure for Australia
The novels of Charles Dickens, famous 19th Century English writer, were widely popular. Plorn felt weighted down by being the offspring of such a gifted wordsmith. Plorn had an embarrassing secret. "I felt that without having read my father's work I was going naked and barely formed into the wilderness."
Why Australia? At age sixteen, the tenth and youngest child of Charles and Catherine Dickens was sent to Australia, not entirely as a place of exile, but a place to potentially flourish. Perhaps after working some years at a sheep station in NSW, Plorn could one day return to England "...as an applied man, and one familiar with Hard Times, Martin Chuzzlewit and all the rest."
Plorn, along with blacksmith Tom Larkin, the son of Irish convicts, was bound for Momba Station. "Momba was like a little village...several cottages for drovers and carpenters, stables, and a huge shearing shed with a fringe of sheep races and pens and yards...a wool factory once shearing began...the country is so vast and the capacity to carry sheep per acre so small...the sheep are lost...we will find them in time for mustering...".
The Bonney brothers were the "bosses" of Momba. Edward Bonney was "matter-of-fact...spoke economically" while younger brother Fred, treated his Paakantji workers with dignity and immersed himself in their culture and traditions. Working at the remote station, Plorn hoped to become a gentleman drover and learn the wool trade. Many challenges ensued including an attack on the station by bushrangers. Some stock and station agents used unsavory methods to acquire land and sheep. The ever present shadow of Charles Dickens' fame followed Plorn with people from all walks of life quoting passages from well known works. Plorn's challenge-seeming knowledgeable...a daunting task!
Despite being lauded worldwide and inundated with continuous requests for readings, Charles Dickens was a conflicted man, a man who had banished his wife, Catherine after eighteen years of
marriage. Catherine's sister, Georgina would remain to raise the children. As per Dickens, no contact with their mother was permitted. His word was law, no disagreement allowed.
"The Dickens Boy" by Thomas Keneally is a work of historical fiction that encompasses many themes. The reader gets to experience life on a 19th century sheep station as described by Plorn and read his musings on trying to please his difficult to please father. The impact of British colonialism on the Aboriginal culture is brought to the forefront. Thomas Keneally's 34th novel is a wonder to behold! Highly recommended.
Thank you Atria Books and Net Galley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
-Letter from Charles Dickens to son Plorn, upon Plorn's departure for Australia
The novels of Charles Dickens, famous 19th Century English writer, were widely popular. Plorn felt weighted down by being the offspring of such a gifted wordsmith. Plorn had an embarrassing secret. "I felt that without having read my father's work I was going naked and barely formed into the wilderness."
Why Australia? At age sixteen, the tenth and youngest child of Charles and Catherine Dickens was sent to Australia, not entirely as a place of exile, but a place to potentially flourish. Perhaps after working some years at a sheep station in NSW, Plorn could one day return to England "...as an applied man, and one familiar with Hard Times, Martin Chuzzlewit and all the rest."
Plorn, along with blacksmith Tom Larkin, the son of Irish convicts, was bound for Momba Station. "Momba was like a little village...several cottages for drovers and carpenters, stables, and a huge shearing shed with a fringe of sheep races and pens and yards...a wool factory once shearing began...the country is so vast and the capacity to carry sheep per acre so small...the sheep are lost...we will find them in time for mustering...".
The Bonney brothers were the "bosses" of Momba. Edward Bonney was "matter-of-fact...spoke economically" while younger brother Fred, treated his Paakantji workers with dignity and immersed himself in their culture and traditions. Working at the remote station, Plorn hoped to become a gentleman drover and learn the wool trade. Many challenges ensued including an attack on the station by bushrangers. Some stock and station agents used unsavory methods to acquire land and sheep. The ever present shadow of Charles Dickens' fame followed Plorn with people from all walks of life quoting passages from well known works. Plorn's challenge-seeming knowledgeable...a daunting task!
Despite being lauded worldwide and inundated with continuous requests for readings, Charles Dickens was a conflicted man, a man who had banished his wife, Catherine after eighteen years of
marriage. Catherine's sister, Georgina would remain to raise the children. As per Dickens, no contact with their mother was permitted. His word was law, no disagreement allowed.
"The Dickens Boy" by Thomas Keneally is a work of historical fiction that encompasses many themes. The reader gets to experience life on a 19th century sheep station as described by Plorn and read his musings on trying to please his difficult to please father. The impact of British colonialism on the Aboriginal culture is brought to the forefront. Thomas Keneally's 34th novel is a wonder to behold! Highly recommended.
Thank you Atria Books and Net Galley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
December 20, 2020
Sent to Australia by his literary celebrated father, Plorn Dickens experiences life in the early 1800s in the colonial outpost. This traverse requires him not only to comprehend his father but his own life and this new existence in a strange endearing land. An enjoyable story by the renowned author, who blends history and fiction to imagine a young man’s life and the foundational compilation of the Aussie psyche. A most enjoyable read with a four-star rating.
November 18, 2024
I knew nothing about the lives of Charles Dickens's children, so naturally I had no idea that two of his sons went to Australia to seek their fortunes. This novel follows Edward, who leaves England as a teenager, and who has never read one of his famous father's books.
This novel is readable and well-written, but it did provoke my curiosity in a way that worked against the success of this book: I wanted to know what really happened, what the true story was, and so on. Keneally did list sources and gave one example of a scene he invented — does that mean all the other scenes and situations were carded out of real wool?
I was more invested in the novel for the first half, but found the second half began to drift and wander; there was also much going on, and I did not lose myself in the story as much as I might have in a purely fictional novel.
Still, very enjoyable, and offers a slice of Australian history. I wondered about the ending, which closes with the words "the living and the dead." These are also the final words in Joyce's short story The Dead, as well as potentially a nod to Australia's Nobel prize winner Patrick White who wrote a novel titled The Living and the Dead. At least it made me think of Patrick White!
This novel is readable and well-written, but it did provoke my curiosity in a way that worked against the success of this book: I wanted to know what really happened, what the true story was, and so on. Keneally did list sources and gave one example of a scene he invented — does that mean all the other scenes and situations were carded out of real wool?
I was more invested in the novel for the first half, but found the second half began to drift and wander; there was also much going on, and I did not lose myself in the story as much as I might have in a purely fictional novel.
Still, very enjoyable, and offers a slice of Australian history. I wondered about the ending, which closes with the words "the living and the dead." These are also the final words in Joyce's short story The Dead, as well as potentially a nod to Australia's Nobel prize winner Patrick White who wrote a novel titled The Living and the Dead. At least it made me think of Patrick White!
April 18, 2020
I found this book lacking in depth. Plorn arrives in a strange country and, with one little hiccup, begins to be the success he never was in England. He seems to have no trouble adapting to the weather or harsh living conditions in the country he has been banished to.
The relationship Alfred and Plorn have with their father, albeit from a great distance, is more interesting and realistically depicted. As Plorn matures, he begins to see his father as he really is and has to come to terms with the fact that Charles Dickens died still believing his youngest child a failure.
Although I love his writing, I am not so sure about the man who was Charles Dickens.
The relationship Alfred and Plorn have with their father, albeit from a great distance, is more interesting and realistically depicted. As Plorn matures, he begins to see his father as he really is and has to come to terms with the fact that Charles Dickens died still believing his youngest child a failure.
Although I love his writing, I am not so sure about the man who was Charles Dickens.
unfinished
February 16, 2021I enjoyed the first third of this low-key novel well enough. Edward, aka Plorn, the youngest child of Charles Dickens, is the antihero: not very clever or ambitious, he’s never even read any of his famous father’s novels. When the 16-year-old gets to New South Wales, Australia, where he is to be a livestock driver, people can’t stop asking him what it was like to have a genius as a ‘guvnor’ – or needling him about that horrible newspaper editorial his father wrote, denouncing his wife to justify their separation. The indigenous characters hold some promise, but Edward is such a dull, passive character that it is hard to care much about what happens to him. One (male) character propositions him, while another tries to get him to read and comment on his slightly salacious story about being in love with his aunt. I read about the first 90 pages and skimmed to p. 145 before giving up. Not a great choice of first Keneally novel. I have a copy of Schindler’s Ark so will try him again.
January 14, 2021
Young Edward Dickens, aka Plorn, holding a gun
This is a wonderful novel about a minor historical figure: Charles Dickens' youngest son, Edward, known as Plorn. Something of a disappointment to his father, Plorn is sent to Australia to apply himself as a sheep farmer. Thomas Keneally tells Plorn's story from age 16 to 18.
I'm so glad I read The Dickens Boy. This novel, told from Plorn's point of view, had much to say about father and son relationships and said it with an almost Victorian diffidence or understatement. It also touched upon marriage and the reality that Charles Dickens (here "the guvnor"), although a celebrated author and philanthropist, failed as a husband. The narrative, frequently punctuated by letters (some factual, others invented), offered a thought-provoking take on sibling relationships, colonialism and what it means to make your mark in this world. The depiction of Australia, a place I previously had fairly little interest in, thrilled me. And the ending truly reshaped my conception of grief.
In tone and style, Keneally has written a loving and humorous homage to Dickens' own novels. Scattered throughout, we meet secondary characters with memorable names and peculiar characteristics: honorable bandits, musical drunkards and a hilarious rendering of an Australian wife's pretention to speak with an English accent.
If I were to criticise, there were some wordy sentences I had to read twice, especially early on. And I much preferred the second half of this novel, which I found smoother to read and more captivating, almost as though Keneally relaxed into his stride just as Plorn did.
The Dickens Boy deserves to be widely read. I loved it, and if you're interested in Dickens, Australia or just enjoy historical fiction, you'll like it too!
I'm keen to explore more Keneally, having only read this plus Schindler's Ark and his memoir Searching for Schindler, if anyone has any recommendations...
May 25, 2023
This historical fiction follows Edward Bulwer Lytton Dickens (nicknamed Plorn), youngest son of Charles Dickens, as he arrives in Australia in 1868 at age sixteen and attempts to forge a life. Edward has grown up in the shadow of his famous father. He lacks his father’s gifts and has trouble with follow-through. He has never read his father’s books, which he finds embarrassing when the people he meets seem to be well-versed in them. Edward learns about sheep husbandry on a ranch owned by the Bonney brothers. One of the brothers is a famous photographer and advocate for the aboriginal people. He interacts with his brother, Alfred, who had migrated to Australia a few years earlier. He finds Australia has a much different culture than what he had experienced in Victorian England.
It is a combination of coming of age, culture clash, and story of a father-son relationship, though the father in this case is half a world away. One of the main areas of focus is Edward’s desire to make his father proud, while feeling at a loss as to how to accomplish it. Edward and Alfred have different views of their father’s motivations in sending them to Australia, and this is a source of tension. Edward encounters many unusual characters, and assumes they have unrealistic expectations of him. The story is based on Edward’s real life, but only covers about two years. While the story feels a bit sluggish at times, it also contains humor and a vivid sense of place. I thoroughly enjoyed spending time with Edward in nineteenth century Australia.
It is a combination of coming of age, culture clash, and story of a father-son relationship, though the father in this case is half a world away. One of the main areas of focus is Edward’s desire to make his father proud, while feeling at a loss as to how to accomplish it. Edward and Alfred have different views of their father’s motivations in sending them to Australia, and this is a source of tension. Edward encounters many unusual characters, and assumes they have unrealistic expectations of him. The story is based on Edward’s real life, but only covers about two years. While the story feels a bit sluggish at times, it also contains humor and a vivid sense of place. I thoroughly enjoyed spending time with Edward in nineteenth century Australia.
May 30, 2020
Famous author father. Tenth son needs to become a man. Off to Australia you go.
This was of course set in colonial times where Oz was seen as a land of opportunity albeit a tough one. Charles Dickens sent his sons away to become ‘men’. The protagonist is sent to Wilcannia, rural NSW to work on a farm.
The character work was fairly good, being all appropriate for their time. There were so many characters I struggled to keep track of them at times. But they were true.
There were some big themes like the massacre of aboriginals and differences encountered compared to England such as the breaking down of the class system and finding your own worth.
There was a gay character which caused the most amount of disagreement in our bookclub group. Some thought it was perfectly believable a man would suddenly kiss a young guy without knowing his sexuality and others thought that would never happen in real life. So it made an interesting discussion topic at least.
I won’t ruin it but to anyone who has already read this...how about those lamb testicles ;)
Our group rated the book 3.5, 3.5, 3, 3, 3 and my 2.5. You don’t need to know anything about Dickens to enjoy it. I think I would have liked it more if I read this on a holiday as some of the language took a fair amount of concentration to follow. Read this if you want some country nostalgia.
This was of course set in colonial times where Oz was seen as a land of opportunity albeit a tough one. Charles Dickens sent his sons away to become ‘men’. The protagonist is sent to Wilcannia, rural NSW to work on a farm.
The character work was fairly good, being all appropriate for their time. There were so many characters I struggled to keep track of them at times. But they were true.
There were some big themes like the massacre of aboriginals and differences encountered compared to England such as the breaking down of the class system and finding your own worth.
There was a gay character which caused the most amount of disagreement in our bookclub group. Some thought it was perfectly believable a man would suddenly kiss a young guy without knowing his sexuality and others thought that would never happen in real life. So it made an interesting discussion topic at least.
I won’t ruin it but to anyone who has already read this...how about those lamb testicles ;)
Our group rated the book 3.5, 3.5, 3, 3, 3 and my 2.5. You don’t need to know anything about Dickens to enjoy it. I think I would have liked it more if I read this on a holiday as some of the language took a fair amount of concentration to follow. Read this if you want some country nostalgia.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 8, 2022
This novel is at this point in 2022 the best one I've read so far. It is historical fiction about two of Charles Dickens' sons who are sent off to Australia to make their own lives in the world of sheep ranching. The first person narrator, Edward "Plorn" Dickens, is the youngest child of ten and Keneally has imbued him with emotional sensitivity and youthful exuberance as he arrives in the colony right before he turns seventeen. So it's both a coming of age novel and a fish out of water story, with the added benefit of Plorn's ambivalence in being a Dickens son who has yet to read any of his father's novels. Everywhere he goes, people quote their favorite passages and recount their favorite characters in the Dickens oeuvre, and young Plorn has to pretend to go along. The novel brings the bushland to life and doesn't neglect to address the harms done to Australia's native people under the strong arm of Britain. It's funny in the Dickensian sense and a novel I couldn't wait to return to. Excellent all around.
November 21, 2023
Keneally can take characters and events from history and weave some amazing stories around them.
In the late 1800s, rather than run the risk of his underachieving sons tarnishing his reputation at home, Charles Dickens sent two of them to Australia.
This tale tells the imagined story of Edward, the tenth child of the esteemed author, as he tries to 'achieve' something with his life. Away from the pressures of being a Dickens, Edward is allowed to find his own path in life and to come to terms with his family and the expectations of them and himself.
Beautifully written, the characters literally jump off the pages. They are vivid, real, and highlight the early days of the Aussie larakin.
In the late 1800s, rather than run the risk of his underachieving sons tarnishing his reputation at home, Charles Dickens sent two of them to Australia.
This tale tells the imagined story of Edward, the tenth child of the esteemed author, as he tries to 'achieve' something with his life. Away from the pressures of being a Dickens, Edward is allowed to find his own path in life and to come to terms with his family and the expectations of them and himself.
Beautifully written, the characters literally jump off the pages. They are vivid, real, and highlight the early days of the Aussie larakin.
November 4, 2021
One of Charles Dickens' eight sons opines to another that the gov'ner, as they called him, sends his own children to the same backwaters that he sends his least favorite characters. Two of his sons are in Australia, while the others are scattered across India and Canada. Whas the gov'ner disappointed in this children? It might seem so.
The Dickens boy is the gov'ner's youngest, Edward, known at Plorn, dragged from school at 16 and plopped on a ship for Australia, where he will learn the sheep business. Plorn "never applied himself" and is not very ambitious, and has never read any of his father's works. In Australia, Dickens is revered by people of all classes and education. They can recite whole chapters of this book or that, they act them out, they never get tired of discussing the characters, and laughing when they're not weeping. Dickens' work is something that brings people together, and Plorn has a big secret to keep.
In remote New South Wales the formerly feckless Plorn creates himself. With an open mind he meets aboriginal people, ex-convicts, new colonists, gets taken hostage (one of the most touching parts of the novel) and flirts with love. He has so much of his father's work quoted to him that he almost doesn't need to read them. He defends the gov'ner to his angry brother and tries to do well by all.
Thomas Keneally writes about Australia of the 1860's with a historian's eye and novelist's flair, making this novel a treat and a triumph.
Thanks to Edelweiss and the publisher for a digital copy of this title in exchange for an honest review.
The Dickens boy is the gov'ner's youngest, Edward, known at Plorn, dragged from school at 16 and plopped on a ship for Australia, where he will learn the sheep business. Plorn "never applied himself" and is not very ambitious, and has never read any of his father's works. In Australia, Dickens is revered by people of all classes and education. They can recite whole chapters of this book or that, they act them out, they never get tired of discussing the characters, and laughing when they're not weeping. Dickens' work is something that brings people together, and Plorn has a big secret to keep.
In remote New South Wales the formerly feckless Plorn creates himself. With an open mind he meets aboriginal people, ex-convicts, new colonists, gets taken hostage (one of the most touching parts of the novel) and flirts with love. He has so much of his father's work quoted to him that he almost doesn't need to read them. He defends the gov'ner to his angry brother and tries to do well by all.
Thomas Keneally writes about Australia of the 1860's with a historian's eye and novelist's flair, making this novel a treat and a triumph.
Thanks to Edelweiss and the publisher for a digital copy of this title in exchange for an honest review.
March 31, 2022
I received an advance reading copy (arc) of this book from NetGalley.com in return for a fair review. I so wanted to love this book. After all, it is based on the story of Edward Dickens, the tenth and youngest child of famed author Charles Dickens. Edward, who was affectionately called Plornishmaroontigoonter (or Plorn for short) by his family, was a child who did not fit in. He wasn't good at school and never really applied himself to learn a trade. His father came up with a solution--send the boy to Australia where he would learn the sheep trade and live in the outback along with native Aborigines, other citizens from Great Britain, crooks and military men. He would either man up or he wouldn't. It was a colorful set up to say the least. However, the story just seemed to ramble on and I eventually lost interest in the teenage Plorn and his adventures down under. Admirably, he did step up and take his position seriously making a success of himself and impressing those around him. I was glad for that, but even gladder when I reached 'The End'!
March 27, 2022
Actual rating: 4.5 stars, rounded down due to one unnecessary risque scene and circumstance. Other than that regrettable misstep, the rest of the novel is by turns, fascinating, illuminating and poignant. It shed a different light on the revered author, Charles Dickens, by viewing him as a father from the point of view of his youngest son and child, Edward Bulwer Lytton Dickens. We follow him as a 16 year-old boy, not quite 17, to Australia, a land full of promise and challenges, that his father hopes will be the making of him. Edward, nicknamed "Plorn," resolves to "apply himself" by adapting to life in this strange and wondrous place.
Right off the bat, he shows his true mettle by his reaction to the owner of the first sheep station to which he is assigned. This odious man turns out to only be interested in the salacious details of Plorn's family life, most of which the young man is hardly even aware. Thus, this callow, but upright young man, finds himself trying to defend both his mother and his father, only to end by refusing to stay there and then riding off, by himself, in the middle of the night, riding blindly over treacherous country! This is our introduction to a hero of true integrity, as he will prove himself to be many times over the course of the book.
Fortunately, Plorn is next placed on Momba Station, run by the kindly Bonney brothers. It is under the tutelage of these men that Plorn is able to settle in and learn the skills needed to run a huge sheep ranch. He pitches in with a will, and his own strong character and desire to do well combine to allow him to reach his potential in such diverse areas as horsemanship, working with many people from colorful and varied backgrounds, and still play cricket with the best!
One theme that runs through the book is his father's presumed disappointment in Plorn's non-scholarly achievements. But what Charles Dickens doesn't know, is that Plorn has never read any of his world-famous books! This fact weighs heavily on Plorn from the first scene to nearly the end, when he has, at last!, managed to read and enjoy, DAVID COPPERFIELD. This is a real sign of Plorn's maturity, that he can now grasp some of the abstract concepts found in his father's works and he also understands why it is that Dickens speaks so universally.
Another theme in the book concerns his older brother, Alfred, who is similarly in Australia on a neighboring station, and Alfred's obsession that their father sent them both there because it was the final refuge of hopeless failures. When the brothers are together, Alfred insists on pointing out all the characters in Dickens books that he consigns to Australia, proving (in his mind) that their father sent them there because he thought they would never amount to anything in England. This is not a view that Plorn shares and he is greatly disturbed and saddened by his brother's outlook.
The book covers about an 18-month period of time and is definitely a coming-of-age book. However it is an adventure story too, as it details the development of a colonial country just starting to come into its own. There may be some sore points along the way, but I believe the intent of the author was to give value and respect to both the aboriginal people as well as those who tried to treat them fairly. There were also plenty of portraits of settlers who did not respect the rights or values of anyone! It seems to be an even-handed reporting of actual conditions as they existed in the attitudes and societal norms of the time and place.
To wrap-up, this is a charming book and far superior to some fictionalized accounts I have read about famous people's offspring. (Hamnet, I'm looking at you!) Plorn is an engaging protagonist; the writing was light, yet substantial...a thorough treat!
Right off the bat, he shows his true mettle by his reaction to the owner of the first sheep station to which he is assigned. This odious man turns out to only be interested in the salacious details of Plorn's family life, most of which the young man is hardly even aware. Thus, this callow, but upright young man, finds himself trying to defend both his mother and his father, only to end by refusing to stay there and then riding off, by himself, in the middle of the night, riding blindly over treacherous country! This is our introduction to a hero of true integrity, as he will prove himself to be many times over the course of the book.
Fortunately, Plorn is next placed on Momba Station, run by the kindly Bonney brothers. It is under the tutelage of these men that Plorn is able to settle in and learn the skills needed to run a huge sheep ranch. He pitches in with a will, and his own strong character and desire to do well combine to allow him to reach his potential in such diverse areas as horsemanship, working with many people from colorful and varied backgrounds, and still play cricket with the best!
One theme that runs through the book is his father's presumed disappointment in Plorn's non-scholarly achievements. But what Charles Dickens doesn't know, is that Plorn has never read any of his world-famous books! This fact weighs heavily on Plorn from the first scene to nearly the end, when he has, at last!, managed to read and enjoy, DAVID COPPERFIELD. This is a real sign of Plorn's maturity, that he can now grasp some of the abstract concepts found in his father's works and he also understands why it is that Dickens speaks so universally.
Another theme in the book concerns his older brother, Alfred, who is similarly in Australia on a neighboring station, and Alfred's obsession that their father sent them both there because it was the final refuge of hopeless failures. When the brothers are together, Alfred insists on pointing out all the characters in Dickens books that he consigns to Australia, proving (in his mind) that their father sent them there because he thought they would never amount to anything in England. This is not a view that Plorn shares and he is greatly disturbed and saddened by his brother's outlook.
The book covers about an 18-month period of time and is definitely a coming-of-age book. However it is an adventure story too, as it details the development of a colonial country just starting to come into its own. There may be some sore points along the way, but I believe the intent of the author was to give value and respect to both the aboriginal people as well as those who tried to treat them fairly. There were also plenty of portraits of settlers who did not respect the rights or values of anyone! It seems to be an even-handed reporting of actual conditions as they existed in the attitudes and societal norms of the time and place.
To wrap-up, this is a charming book and far superior to some fictionalized accounts I have read about famous people's offspring. (Hamnet, I'm looking at you!) Plorn is an engaging protagonist; the writing was light, yet substantial...a thorough treat!
May 16, 2020
A rather languid telling of Plorn Dickens early life with many a blurring of fact and fiction which consummate writer Keneally admits too in one review I read. I was however fascinated to read this work which concentrates on Charles Dickens youngest boy, (anecdote: Plorn is buried only a few hundred metres away from my own father in the Moree cemetery, and was known to my great-grandfather). Missing for me was the description of the country Plorn found himself in. A young British man thrown in with outback colonials would surely have contemplated the vast beauty of the lands he found himself in.
June 6, 2022
Like many of the books I "read" this was an audiobook. I certainly thought that the story would be interesting since I know nothing about Charles Dickens children. In fact, I never thought about Charles Dickens having children. The story for me just never got off the ground and I was looking forward to the end of the story. Really should have just stopped listening way before the end of the book especially since I found the ending as dull as the rest of the book.
May 22, 2022
Although fictional it was interesting to learn about how and why Charles Dickens' two youngest sons were sent to Australia and the effects of their father's death in a time of very limited communication.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 3, 2022
A fascinating combination of Charles Dicken's youngest son's experience on a sheep station in the far west of New South Wales, whilst he (the son) is haunted by his memories of his father's escapades far away in England, and embarrassed by his near complete ignorance of his father's writing. Often brutal, frequently touching, with a 'warts & all' expose of our interface with the original inhabitants of this land.
June 20, 2020
Sad to say I didn’t like this book and didn’t finish it. Too much philosophising and not enough story.
July 19, 2021
This wasn’t a real enough depiction of what times would have been like. Too whitewashed, neat and sterile.
May 26, 2022
I did not care for this book and did not finish it.
October 18, 2022
Fun story but brush up on your Charles Dickens classics in order to get the full nuances of the story.
January 25, 2025
Setting: Australia; 1868-1870.
In 1868, 16-year-old Edward (Plorn) Dickens is sent to Australia by his father, renowned author Charles Dickens, to enable him to 'find himself' through work on a sheep station. After an initial difficult encounter with one landowner, Edward finds himself working with brothers Fred and Edward Bonney where, as the rising but changing country develops, so too does Plorn himself. Trying to deal with the legacy of his father's writing, famous and revered even this far away from England, Plorn must come to terms with that fame rubbing off on him, despite the fact that he has never read one of his father's novels!....
This was a highly-entertaining and, for me, educational read - never having realised that two of Charles Dickens' sons had moved to Australia to live (Plorn's older brother Albert was also there). The Australian landscape and the development of the pastoral industries, including the varying relationships with the indigenous population, were well-described and enthralling. Fortunately, the Bonney brothers were supportive of their local tribe and had no issues with them but other settlers were not so enlightened. Sadly, there is a massacre involving mounted police following so-called 'raiders' from Queensland, despite the efforts of Plorn and the Bonney brothers, and Albert and Plorn have to cope with the news of their father's death in 1870. A really intriguing read which has made me want to know more about Plorn's life after 1870 - 8.5/10.
In 1868, 16-year-old Edward (Plorn) Dickens is sent to Australia by his father, renowned author Charles Dickens, to enable him to 'find himself' through work on a sheep station. After an initial difficult encounter with one landowner, Edward finds himself working with brothers Fred and Edward Bonney where, as the rising but changing country develops, so too does Plorn himself. Trying to deal with the legacy of his father's writing, famous and revered even this far away from England, Plorn must come to terms with that fame rubbing off on him, despite the fact that he has never read one of his father's novels!....
This was a highly-entertaining and, for me, educational read - never having realised that two of Charles Dickens' sons had moved to Australia to live (Plorn's older brother Albert was also there). The Australian landscape and the development of the pastoral industries, including the varying relationships with the indigenous population, were well-described and enthralling. Fortunately, the Bonney brothers were supportive of their local tribe and had no issues with them but other settlers were not so enlightened. Sadly, there is a massacre involving mounted police following so-called 'raiders' from Queensland, despite the efforts of Plorn and the Bonney brothers, and Albert and Plorn have to cope with the news of their father's death in 1870. A really intriguing read which has made me want to know more about Plorn's life after 1870 - 8.5/10.
February 18, 2024
"The Dickens Boy" by Thomas Keneally is a delightful novel that offers a fresh perspective on the life of Charles Dickens's son, Edward Bulwer Lytton Dickens (Plorn). Keneally paints a vibrant picture of this harsh yet magnificent landscape, teeming with rugged characters and unexpected encounters. Plorn's journey is self-discovery, grappling with his father's shadow while forging his own path. Humour and wit abound, reminiscent of Dickens, intertwined with poignant reflections on family, class, and the clash of cultures.
With rich historical detail and vibrant storytelling, Keneally transports readers to the rugged landscapes and vibrant communities of 19th-century Australia. The novel is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit and the power of self-discovery. A compelling yet inconsistent subplot within the Dickens narrative.
⭐ ⭐ ⭐ 1/2
With rich historical detail and vibrant storytelling, Keneally transports readers to the rugged landscapes and vibrant communities of 19th-century Australia. The novel is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit and the power of self-discovery. A compelling yet inconsistent subplot within the Dickens narrative.
⭐ ⭐ ⭐ 1/2
July 18, 2020
I struggled with this - Keneally's style is easy to read and in that sense this was an enjoyable novel and page turner. The premise was exciting but I couldn't help but feel it missed the depth I might have expected, especially when writing about the son of someone who was marvellous at telling tales and describing characters. I also wondered about the necessity of introducing the elements of desire in the way that Keneally did.
What this did stimulate me to do was to go and find out about the real Plorn (at least what is known).
What this did stimulate me to do was to go and find out about the real Plorn (at least what is known).
July 25, 2022
What an interesting, sunny, and optimistic book! I guess one might call it creative non fiction, though the author gleaned many elements from the letters of Charles Dickens and his friends/family. The 10th son of Dickens is sent to Australia to "make his way" and he grapples with the legacy of his father, and what it means to be personally successful.
I thought it was a lovely book; I kept waiting for terrible strife or tragedy; it doesn't really happen. It was actually quite nice to read about someone finding peace and happiness on a slightly different path.
I thought it was a lovely book; I kept waiting for terrible strife or tragedy; it doesn't really happen. It was actually quite nice to read about someone finding peace and happiness on a slightly different path.
May 26, 2021
I was attracted to this book because Plorn, the son of Charles Dickens, was sent to Australia as a young man by his family because he had failed to prosper in England. He hadn't found his way - though he was only 16 so it seems a bit premature! My own great great grandfather was likewise sent to Australia because he had not 'applied' himself in his adolescence and young adulthood. I have thought of writing my ancestor's story. This novel by a master story teller is indeed an inspiration. I love the blending of truth and fiction. Thomas Keneally has really entered into the possibilities in this novel. It presents an Australia in the 1860s that is complex, brutal, full of hope and tragedy.
October 9, 2022
The book was slow to engage my interest but I became captivated by the contrast of life in 19th century England and the expanding colony in NSW. The family relationships of the Dickens sons and their vastly different appraisal of their father and the impact a parent has on their children was insightful. The passion the early settlers had for Charles Dickens novels was interesting and has inspired me to read more Dickens novels. The book explores relationships with the First Nations peoples and the impact of colonial expansion on them. I can recommend this book.
July 30, 2025
This is classic Keneally, fictionalising the life of a real person in history (think Schindler’s Ark, Chant of Jimmy Blacksmith, etc). Edward ‘Plorn’ Dickens was the real-life youngest son of Charles Dickens who was sent off to Australia at the age of 15 to ‘apply himself’ after proving to be a fairly ordinary student. This book focuses on the first two years of his life in Australia, where he learns the sheep business on a station near Wilcannia.
Plorn is a warm, engaging and sweet narrator. Keneally creates a fun, rollicking adventure that paints a vivid picture of colonial outback Australia, including British aristocracy working as drovers, cricket matches in the desert, bush rangers, drought, flood and of course, interactions with First Nations people. Keneally handles this sensitively, with Plorn and his employers treating them as equals and sources of great knowledge, while others… well you know. He doesn’t pull punches in relation to how they were treated.
Three shandies out of five. It was fun, but it got a little worn out by the end.
Plorn is a warm, engaging and sweet narrator. Keneally creates a fun, rollicking adventure that paints a vivid picture of colonial outback Australia, including British aristocracy working as drovers, cricket matches in the desert, bush rangers, drought, flood and of course, interactions with First Nations people. Keneally handles this sensitively, with Plorn and his employers treating them as equals and sources of great knowledge, while others… well you know. He doesn’t pull punches in relation to how they were treated.
Three shandies out of five. It was fun, but it got a little worn out by the end.
December 28, 2022
Recommended by Ellen J. Check our catalog: https://encore.cooklib.org/iii/encore...
February 5, 2023
Always good to tuck a little bit of history up your sleeve. Who would have thought…..Plorn!
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