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There is, of course, no `true history' of the Kelly Gang. The life and death of Ned Kelly constitutes one of Australia's most pervasive myths, and an often contested myth at that. Although superficially it may seem to take Kelly's side (Carey sustains Kelly's voice through nearly 400 pages) this book is another contestation. The persecution of poor Irish-Australians is made clear, as is Kelly's unjust treatment at the hands of the police. But is this Carey's view, or Carey's view of Kelly's view? The framing explanations of the `parcels' of Kelly's writing which make up the bulk of the text make it clear that this is `a', not `the', version of events. It is a compelling version, a meditation on Australian-ness and the connection some white Australians have to the land. Certainly it requires careful reading - this is the voice of a semi-literate man from late last century - but the careful reading is terrifically rewarding: Carey can't help but write gorgeous prose, even when he's pretending to be someone who would be incapable of it. Perhaps there will be critics who carp about this book and why Carey chose to write it, and it will certainly be something different for both Carey and Kelly fans, but it should be embraced, slowly and appreciatively.

Lorien Kaye is the editor of AB&P. 

C. 2000 Thorpe-Bowker and contributors

Tags: peter carey