Reviewed by Rama Gaind. By Alli Sinclair, Mira, $11.99.
Award-winning author Sinclair diligently works to explore history, culture, love, grief and relationships between family, friends and lovers.
While Burning Fields is driven by a love story, it’s very firmly an historical fiction, an exploration of multi-cultural history within Australia against a background of social change.
Set in north Queensland, Sinclair’s Australian historical-themed romance is dramatic, a reminiscent narrative. The novel takes us to the sugar cane fields of Queensland, just after the close of World War II. The tale that emerges is compelling, one that echoes Australia of times past.
It’s 1948 and the daughter of an Anglo-Australian family falls for an Italian immigrant against the wishes of her family.
Rosie Stanton is the female protagonist, a strong-willed woman who is clearly ahead of her time. She finds it difficult to return to the family farm after years working for the Australian Women’s Army Service. Reminders are everywhere of the brothers she lost in the war and she is unable to understand her father’s contempt for Italians, especially the Conti family next door. She has remarkable character, is unwavering yet sympathetic and finely susceptible.
Desperate to leave his turbulent history behind, Tomas Conti has left Italy to join his family in Piri River. At first, he struggles to adapt in Australia, until he meets Rosie. Her easygoing nature and positive outlook help him forget the life he’s escaped. As their relationship grows, so do the tensions between the two families until the situation becomes explosive.
As returned servicemen endeavour to adjust to their pre–war lives, women who had worked for the war effort are expected to embrace traditional roles once more.
Burning Fields is a novel that is full of ambiance and realism.
