Books & Literature

Book Review: Dirrayawadha, by Anita Heiss

HISTORICAL FICTION: From the bestselling author of Bila Yarrudhanggalangdhuray (River of Dreams) comes another groundbreaking historical novel about resistance, resilience and love during the frontier wars.

Captivating, devastating, and richly layered; an impactful tribute to the Frontier Wars.
4.5

Dr Anita Heiss, a proud Wiradjuri woman, takes us back to the 1820s in her latest historical fiction novel Dirrayawadha. As an award-winning author with a worldwide following, and a remarkable ability to weave culture and perspective into all her works, Heiss has also earned recognition for her social commentary and truth-telling; she was a finalist in the 2012 Human Rights Awards and 2013 Australian of the Year Awards.

Her latest book focuses on the most easterly grouping of the Wiradyuri nation and portrays the harm done to the Wiradyuri people (as a whole) at the time. In non-Indigenous histories, the Wiradyuri in this area are sometimes referred to as Bathurst Wiradyuri, after the area which was renamed at the time of the Frontier Wars.

Although it is a fictionalised account of events, the novel serves to tell the truth – the brutality, the violence and inhumanity the Wiradyuri people endured at the time – yet also pays tribute to their resistance, their strength, their wisdom and resilience. For many readers, Heiss’ novel offers new insights or a deeper understanding of the impact to Wiradyuri life at the time of the invasion of this area.

At its core, the novel centres on an interracial love story between Miinaa, a Wiradyuri woman, and Irish convict Daniel O’Dwyer. Both work at Cloverdale, “owned” by the Nugents, colonists who are sympathetic to the Wiradyuri people and partial to the Irish. Although they are kind, they still bear a colonial mindset: Wife Susanna is shaped by her Christianity, and husband Andrew is a beneficiary of colonial privilege.

Although the Nugents’ internal struggles in the story are not fully explored, their actions and their position as “sympathisers” to the Wiradyuri add depth to their characters, and also reflect the complexities of their position. The Nugents don’t fit in either world, they are both complicit and rebellious, as they place themselves in danger simply by upholding basic principles of morality by not abusing their servants. The protagonists of the novel, Daniel and Miinaa, are also both doing what they can to survive; similarly, they also refuse to conform. Rather, they choose to love each other against all societal expectations and wishes.

The other main character is Miinaa’s Warrior brother Windraryne, dubbed “Saturday” by the white ghosts, and historically a legendary figure who led a campaign of guerrilla warfare so skilfully that a reward of 500 acres was offered in reward for his capture. Martial law existed between August 14, 1824, and December 11 that year, during which soldiers, police, settlers, and convicts attempted to erase the Wiradyuri. This is covered in the text, and the way Heiss covers this period provides room for traditions, customs, and culture to be fully explored. In particular, we delve into the duty to family, selflessness, the warrior mindset, battle expertise, the ability to hunt, leadership styles, and connection to land. The struggle of Miinaa, her actions as a person, her selflessness, and her dedication to taking care of all the children, whilst at the same time being a fearless fighter, make her a compelling and enjoyable character.

I found Heiss’ inclusion of Wiradyuri language in the dialogue (with a glossary at the front of the book), enhanced the authenticity of the text whilst enriching the cultural context. It is placed strategically throughout so I found I understood without needing to refer to the glossary.

The novel is essential reading for anyone interested in history. Whilst the brutality of the violence is described and hard to stomach, it is not excessively detailed and serves more as a reminder of the overlooked realities of Australia’s past. I am not sure if “enjoyed” is the right word to use when I describe how much I appreciated this novel and the amazing storytelling skill of Heiss. What I can say for sure though is that it is worth the read.

Reviewed by Rebecca Wu

The views expressed in this review belong to the author and not Glam Adelaide, its affiliates, or employees.

Distributed by: Simon & Schuster
Released: July 2024
RRP: $32.99

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