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True History of the Kelly Gang
Peter Carey Book Review

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Plot Summary of True History of the Kelly Gang
"

Knopf, Dec 2000, 25.00, 350 pp.
ISBN: 0375410848

    Though over a century has passed since the Australian authorities hanged him, Ned Kelly retains a mythical hold on the minds of individuals who romanticize a criminal with an honorable moral fiber. In 1879-1880, Kelly and his cohorts elude the police for about twenty months, desperately doing daring deeds that capture the soul of a nation. Yet in the end he fails to achieve his goal of winning the approval of his mother, but Ellen betrayed her family and Ned whenever it was convenient.

    This is an exciting biographical fiction that brings to life a country and its people in the late nineteenth century. Although one-sided by turning Kelly into a glamorous heroic victim of society and his family, he retains all the allure that makes him an epic hero. The story line is well written and grips the reader from start to finish with the action adventure of a Zane Gray western tale. Award winning Peter Carey shows why he is one of the best authors with this uncanny novel that brings forth a legendary man.

Harriet Klausner
"

Harriet Klausner, Resident Scholar

"Ned Kelly, who lived in Australia, fights police corruption. He doesn't win."
WoL, Resident Scholar

Review Analysis of True History of the Kelly Gang
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Ratings are on a 1-10 scale (Low to High)
Plot
Tone of book? - depressed
Time/era of story - 19th century
Life of a profession: - criminal
Inside culture (main char) - Irish
Other aspects: - story of the poor
Is this an adult or child's book? - Adult or Young Adult Book
Job/Profession/Status story Yes
Ethnic/regional/gender life Yes

Main Character
Gender - Male
Profession/status: - accused criminal
Age: - 40's-50's - long lived adults
Is this an ordinary person caught up in events? Yes
Ethnicity/Nationality - Irish/McCourt
How sensitive is this character? - middling sensitive to others' feelings - hard edged
Sense of humor - Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence - Smarter than most other characters
Physique - average physique

Main Adversary
Identity: - Male - an organization
Age: - long-lived adults
Profession/status: - police/lawman
How much of work is main antagonist actually present in: - an average amount
How sensitive is this character? - mean, arrogant
Sense of humor - Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence - Average intelligence
Physique - average physique

Setting
How much descriptions of surroundings? - 2 (a little)
Europe Yes
European country: - England/UK
Asia/Pacific Yes
Asian country: - Australia
Farm/Ranch? Yes
Farm/Ranch: - farm

Style
Person - mostly 1st - mostly 3rd
Accounts of torture and death? - generic/vague references to death/punishment
Unusual Style: - written like a journal/diary/letters
Amount of dialog - roughly even amounts of descript and dialog - significantly more descript than dialog
Most similar books to True History of the Kelly Gang
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Translations by Brian Friel
Dubliners by James Joyce


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