Jeannie Gunn – författare

We of the Never Never (1908) is an autobiographical novel by Jeannie Gunn. Based on her experience accompanying her husband Aeneas to the remote cattle station of Elsey, Gunn’s novel is a fascinating masterpiece of Australian literature that explores the landscape of the continent’s Northern Territory while depicting the tense relationship between white settlers and the Aboriginal people they displaced. Sympathetic and utterly human, Gunn’s voice is a testament to her bravery as the first woman to settle in the Mataranka area, where she lived for just over a year until her husband’s tragic death from malaria. “To begin somewhere near the beginning, the Măluka—better known at that time as the new Boss for the Elsey—and I, his ‘missus,’ were at Darwin, in the Northern Territory, waiting for the train that was to take us just as far as it could—one hundred and fifty miles—on our way to the Never-Never. It was out of town just then, up-country somewhere, billabonging in true bush-whacker style, but was expected to return in a day or two, when it would be at our service.” Determined to follow her husband wherever he goes, “little Missus” braves the harsh trek to the distant cattle station where he has been appointed overseer. Over hundreds of miles on horseback, they observe for the first time the natural beauty of some of the wildest landscapes on Earth. Although the local cattle drovers are initially wary of her presence, the narrator proves herself as a courageous and hardworking woman, a friend of settlers and Aboriginal people alike. With a beautifully designed cover and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of Jeannie Gunn’s We of the Never Never is a classic work of Australian literature reimagined for modern readers.

We of the Never Never (1908) is an autobiographical novel by Jeannie Gunn. Based on her experience accompanying her husband Aeneas to the remote cattle station of Elsey, Gunn’s novel is a fascinating masterpiece of Australian literature that explores the landscape of the continent’s Northern Territory while depicting the tense relationship between white settlers and the Aboriginal people they displaced. Sympathetic and utterly human, Gunn’s voice is a testament to her bravery as the first woman to settle in the Mataranka area, where she lived for just over a year until her husband’s tragic death from malaria. “To begin somewhere near the beginning, the Maluka—better known at that time as the new Boss for the Elsey—and I, his ‘missus,’ were at Darwin, in the Northern Territory, waiting for the train that was to take us just as far as it could—one hundred and fifty miles—on our way to the Never-Never. It was out of town just then, up-country somewhere, billabonging in true bush-whacker style, but was expected to return in a day or two, when it would be at our service.” Determined to follow her husband wherever he goes, “little Missus” braves the harsh trek to the distant cattle station where he has been appointed overseer. Over hundreds of miles on horseback, they observe for the first time the natural beauty of some of the wildest landscapes on Earth. Although the local cattle drovers are initially wary of her presence, the narrator proves herself as a courageous and hardworking woman, a friend of settlers and Aboriginal people alike. This edition of Jeannie Gunn’s We of the Never Never is a classic work of Australian literature reimagined for modern readers.

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These simple sketches and photographs of Territory life centre around the young Aboriginal girl Bett-Bett (Dolly Bonson) and her dog Sue; as she appears from the Never-Never, stays awhile, learns a little, laughs a lot, wonders much, and finally returns to the bush again.This early tale of life in the Northern Territory was first published in 1905, and was followed up bby the classic We of the Never-Never, the author's memoir of life with her family on Elsey Station.

"We of the Never-Never" by Jeannie Gunn is a memoir set in the Australian Outback, reflecting the author's experiences as a young woman living in a remote cattle station with her husband in the early 20th century. The narrative captures the harsh and unforgiving nature of life in the Outback, as well as the resilience and determination required to thrive in such an environment. The title, "Never-Never," refers to the vast, untamed lands of the Northern Territory. The memoir delves into the cultural and social dynamics of frontier life, highlighting the challenges faced by settlers, particularly women, in a land far removed from civilization. Through the author's personal observations, readers are introduced to the landscape, the people, and the unique customs that define the Outback. Gunn’s writing is filled with vivid descriptions, reflecting both the beauty and the brutality of the land, as well as her own emotional journey in adapting to life in such an isolated and challenging setting. The book explores themes of isolation, survival, cultural encounters, and the bonds that develop in harsh environments.