'Kyra Geddes deftly weaves literature, history, and the possibility of truth to give the Drover's Wife a name. In doing so, she invites us to imagine the lives of other women whose stories have been told by men.' Pip Williams
'Brimming with evocative, authentic detail, The Story Thief brings a fresh, feminist perspective to Australian literature and art. Australian historical fiction at its finest.' Liane Moriarty
'A richly textured and immersive novel filled with defining moments, minute detail and compelling insights into the meaning of loss, love and family.' Nicole Alexander
'Vividly drawn - a delightful book.' Wendy Sharpe, multi-award winning Australian artist
Her family's story made Henry Lawson famous. But was it his story to tell?
Fact and fiction meld into one in this stirring family saga set against shifting landscapes and pivotal moments in Australian history.
Lillian was born in 1892, the same year Henry Lawson wrote 'The Drover's Wife' and cemented his place in Australia's literary canon. When Lillian reads the short story as a teenager, she is convinced that it is based upon her own family and becomes determined to prove it. But as the years pass, the truth becomes more problematic, and Lillian must decide what is more important: holding onto the past or embracing the future.
The Story Thief is about mothers and daughters, love, loss and the power of words. Ultimately it is about how each of us must find our own way to live.
About the Author
Kyra Geddes was born in Adelaide and spent her infancy in the South Australian opal fields in a setting not unlike that of 'The Drover's Wife'. Following a successful career in marketing and business, Kyra returned to university to study English and pursue her lifelong dream of writing. The Story Thief is her acclaimed debut novel, and the culmination of almost a decade of research and writing. A passionate art lover and traveller of mixed German-Italian heritage, Kyra lives in Sydney with her family.
Industry Reviews
'Vividly drawn – a delightful book.' Wendy Sharpe, multi-award winning Australian artist
'The Story Thief is a finely wrought historical novel about those who have been seen, but not seen, in Australian literature and in life.' Ryan O'Neill, author of The Drover's Wives
'Kyra Geddes artfully weaves literature and history into an epic Australian novel.' David Hunt, author of the Girt series
'A sweeping tale'. – Meredith Jaffe
'It's an ambitious, expansive but well-paced debut novel, with appealing characters and a boldly imagined historical canvas'. – The Age/Sydney Morning Herald
'A stirring drama'. – Take 5 Magazine
