The Exiles: A Novel

‘The Exiles’ is a delightful book, a big fat shiny five stars. The subject matter is so relevant, even today. The penal colonies of Australia are a repugnant blotch in England’s expansive history, although many other nations can credit themselves with their own disgusting pages in their own histories. The 1840’s, the particular period of this novel, was a flourishing time for the fortunate, but for the unfortunate masses that polite society deemed different for whatever petty reason, life presented a daily struggle to survive, a varied version of hell on earth. But my purpose is to review this wonderful book, not to pass judgement on any nation’s failing. Evangeline is a delightful character and I felt a connection with her right away. Pressured into an affair resulting in pregnancy, she is accused of stealing a gift from her lover. Fourteen years transportation. Prison in Australia. A lot has been said about Evangeline’s naivete and her surprising story arc. I believe she was no more naïve than most girls her age, facing similar circumstances. I also commend Kline for making such a bold move in Evangeline’s story. The nerve! Difficult to read but grittily real in its happening. And then there was Mathinna, the aboriginal young orphan. I felt for her as well, enduring the bigotry of the colonial English rulers. Her story arc was also amazing and at the same time, realistically distressing. But all the characters were very credible, some, like Hazel and even Olive, were inspirational. The dialogue was spot on. The prose was beautiful, yet at times as rugged as the locale. Kline expertly places the reader on the high seas aboard a slave ship, then in the dark, dank, Hades-like prison known as The Cascades. I felt a link, albeit safe, with the convicts as they endured the hell of their days spent in solitary. The blunt hopelessness of their dreadful day to day lives. Kline provides a moral of a sort. A lesson to be learned. “Hazel had made a life for herself that would not have been possible in Great Britain, where the circumstances of her birth would’ve almost certainly determined the story of her future.” The hardships that people endure to achieve a better life, for themselves and their children, always makes such a great story. Kline tells it splendidly.

Ultimately, this book was disappointing to me. The story is focused on the plight of women who were imprisoned in England and sentenced to be transported to Australia. Their stays in prison in London were horrific. The journey to Australia was filled with dangers posed by the voyage, by disease, by childbirth, and by the sailors. And then once they arrived in Australia they were again imprisoned and worked as slaves for the balance of their sentences. The story is mainly focused on three women. There is an auxiliary story woven throughout the book about an aboriginal girl who is taken from her home island by the British governor. Her childhood at the governor’s mansion is treated as an experiment in civilizing the “savage.” It is cruel and heartless in its racism. The point of view switches between the child and two of the women. It is not confusing, but that technique did tend to increase the distance between the reader and the characters. Their stories are filled with danger and drama, but none of them really touched my heart. Unlike the Orphan Train where I was so connected to the characters that I wept, I remained more of an observer here. (Evangeline’s fate may have also contributed to the lack of connection.) Some readers may find the concluding material about Ruby to be satisfying, but I thought it cheapened the story. Four stars with a double minus.

‘The Exiles’ by author Christina Baker Kline exemplifies her well-established reputation for excellence. As a work of historical fiction based on the transport of British female prisoners to the Australian continent and upon the inhumane treatment of the aboriginal peoples during this time, ‘The Exiles’ fulfills all it promises. There are several interwoven plots to keep this story moving forward at a rapid pace: that of a young aboriginal female who is removed from her family and community as a whimsical experiment to ascertain if it were possible to ‘civilize’ those of the native population, and the tales of several women prisoners sentenced to travel via repurposed slave ship to Australia, where they are maintained as prisoners and serve in various societal roles (i.e., maids) within the developing Australian society. Life was inconceivably hard for all of these characters and the author’s skill takes the reader on a journey with as many ups and downs as storm waves at sea. As one comes to expect from her work, the author creates characters who could walk off the pages, and the bonds forged among them are a major underpinning of the novel. For those curious about the creation of Australia, this book is a must-read. It is also a book that captures the historical vulnerability of women in society and the incredible strength of the human spirit and its bonds of friendship/love. The only suggestion I have is that, in my opinion, the author glosses over or entirely skips ways to infuse emotional hope and joy, although they are inferred intellectually. Despite this, 'The Exiles' is an excellent reading adventure.

This is a story of historical fiction. The facts of life for women of the time are real and very enlightening. A very nice read.

I am still reading this my second book by this author; I'm really enjoying it but like to swap between my kindle and audible as a rule. Frustratingly, I'm unable to do this in the UK but would be able to in the US. Please Amazon, can you make the 2 available at the same time please? I thought about delaying reading this and maybe should have done so. I have now finished this. It is an excellent and thoroughly researched novel about women exiled to a penal colony in Van Diemen's Land in 1840 and to a lesser degree, the impact of British colonialism on the native people of Australia. I found it both gripping and interestingly detailed about every aspect of convict life in Hobart Prison.

The Exiles quickly pulls you in as Christina Baker Kline takes the reader on a gruelling, moving, need-to-read journey. British colonization, convict deportation, and the takeover of indigenous land in Australia and Tasmania lay the groundwork for the horrendous events that will befall Evangeline, Hazel and Mathinna. Other women will enter the story, some in friendship, some as participants in the inhumanity. Mathinna's story is particularly painful and poignant. The Franklin's sense of entitlement is beyond appalling; their lifestyle, attitude and behaviour are representative of the upper class at that time. Kline's writing is devoid of melodrama, forced romances, conversations of no importance and men saving the female, all traits that have spoilt more than a few historical fiction books. The Exile's historical accuracy makes it an ideal book club choice. There is much to discuss, including how women and children were mistreated, a subject that goes beyond the UK to Canada and the US. The Victorian era was a time of great power and wealth, but behind the pomp and ceremony was the horrific treatment of the working class. Kline's acknowledgements prove this book is well-researched, and her respect for the truth comes through on every page.

A heart rending page turner on a topic far to often overlooked. Beautifully written and a must read for all.

Loved it, so interesting to know this part of history pertaining to women....a great read, you will not be disappointed

a terrific read