Conviction Book Blurb
A privileged young woman from the Highlands of Scotland is transported to a penal settlement in Australia in 1797.
She must survive in a hostile land that is both primitive and class conscious. She holds onto the hope that she will one day return to her homeland where she will face her tyrannical father— and reveal a dark secret.
Overall Analysis of Conviction
It’s been some time since I’ve read any historical fiction, but this was a great reintroduction into the genre. Not only was I fully entertained, but I learned a lot about a subject I knew very little about: The Colony of New South Wales. I appreciate an author’s dedication to writing a fiction story while simultaneously acknowledging and staying true to its historical setting. It’s clear the author had done her research, spanning from the late 1700s to early 1800s. She certainly displayed a clear understanding of the era.
The story begins with an academic daughter of a laird (an owner of a long-established Scottish estate for those unfamiliar with the term, like me) who shuns her father’s request to marry a man of another clan to secure the family’s fortune. Looking to further establish her independence and gain support for her single lifestyle, she decides to spend a few months at her more open-minded aunt’s house in London. However, while in the big city, she’s wrongfully convicted of a crime, for which her punishment is seven years in the penal colony of New South Wales (currently known as Australia).
Carmel McMurdo Audsley does a great job at characterizing her main character, Bess, as a woman naïve to the harsh world outside Kincaid Hall. Bess’ development is accurately molded by the author as she encounters various hardships and horrors throughout her sentence. Despite her resilience and independence, Audsley does a great job at framing the mind of a free woman who recognizes she was never truly free.
While an average-length novel, Audsley does cover a fairly extensive timeline. Months to years can pass between chapters, so sometimes Bess’ less significant relationships with others in the penal colony can seem a bit sudden or not quite so strong. Though, the relationships that truly count are well crafted and fleshed out.
Furthermore, Audsley did an incredible job describing the injustices done to the indigenous tribes of Australia without claiming to truly understand their plight. She didn’t insert her voice; rather, she let history do the talking.
One thing I found interesting is that I was never sure when the story was going to end. Just as I thought I’d reached the conclusion, the story carried onward with a new obstacle for Bess to overcome. Nevertheless, this proves Audsley was careful to tie up all loose ends. The fate of each character is neatly crafted, and the reader will not have any lingering questions upon finishing the book.
Final Thoughts
Conviction is an incredible tale following the struggles of a woman attempting to claw her way out of a seemingly impossible situation. There is superb characterization beyond the main character, but Bess is the one that truly shines. Also, considering some of the more grotesque and unavoidable subject matter (i.e., rape), Audsley did an impeccable job leaving out the grittier details and focusing more on the emotional and long-term impact. To me, writing about this era seems an intimidating venture, but Audsley pulled it off masterly. She is truly a great storyteller and deserves recognition.
Comments