It's 1850 and New South Wales, Australia is awash with gold. Bushrangers are in the press, their names on everyone's lips: Ben Hall, Frank Gardiner, John Peisley, Dan Morgan, Captain Thunderbolt. They roam free, uninhibited, spending big in the shanties.
The girls love them, these wild boys. Teenager, Larry Cummins, decides to throw his hand in with them. He'll think about consequences later. Bail the coach. Grab the bank's cash. Scarper. Take the bullets, the whips, societal stings. If you weaken you die...
A tale of adventure, love, tragedy and redemption, touchingly told by Larry Cummins' great-grandson, multi-award-winning author, Peter Long. Identity: Larry Cummins, Bushranger, is literary historical fiction inspired by a real story.
About the Author
Peter Long has worked as a stockman, public servant, consultant, researcher and academic. His first novel was Steve Hart: The Last Kelly Standing (Hawkeye 2022). Peter studied in Canada and holds degrees from University of Queensland and University of Toronto. His poetry has been highly commended in the McGregor Literary Competition and a long poem published in Paper Children.
He has been long-listed and published in both The Stringybark and Sydney Hammond short story competitions and his collection of short stories long-listed in the 2020 Hawkeye Manuscript Development Prize.
Industry Reviews
'A vivid tale of a bushranger's life and an animated insight into the motives, consequences, and the ultimate price of living as an outlaw. A page turner.' Edita Mukic, Author Between Before & After; 'A wonderful follow up to Steve Hart - The last Kelly Standing. Colloquial dialogue, visceral descriptions and impeccable research all weave together to form a vivid story, a time capsule to the past. The plight of Larry Cummins' colourful life of adventure, heartache, resolve, and risk taking has been beautifully recreated by an author whose family connections make the story heartfelt and real. You'll peer down Larry's rifle sights, smell the gunpowder, gallop astride a colt pursued by an unrelenting trooper. An intriguing and reflective ending.' Jack Roney, Author of the Detective Jarrod O'Connor Series: The Angels Wept, The Demons Woke, The Shadows Watch; 'Peter Long's literary style compels thought and reflection. In my view, a truly under-rated author adding compelling and important works to the Australian historical fiction genre. A few pages into Identity and I was swept along. I read this in a weekend - you will too. Masterful.' Cate Sawyer, Co-author, Winning Short Story Competitions: Essential tools for the serious writer
