True History of the Kelly Gang

By: Peter Carey

Narrated by: Gianfranco Negroponte

Length: 14 hrs and 17 mins

Publisher's summary

Man Booker Prize, Fiction, 2001

Ned Kelly's name resonates in Australia the same way the name Jesse James does in America. Was he a crusading folk hero or murderous horse thief and bank robber? Who was the real Ned Kelly? As the impoverished son of an Irish convict, Kelly was cheated, lied to, and abused by the English. Committed to fighting back against oppression, Kelly and his gang of outlaws eluded police for nearly two years. Brilliantly novelized by Peter Carey, the story of the Kelly Gang unfolds from a series of 13 compassionate letters written, while on the run, by Kelly to his infant daughter. Building from this historical legend and testing our sympathies, Carey crafts a deeply humanistic piece of historical fiction, a tale of injustice and violence.

©2000 Peter Carey (P)2001 Recorded Books

Critic reviews

"No reader will be left unmoved by this dramatic tale....A novel that teems with energy, suspense and the true story of a memorable protagonist." ( Publishers Weekly)
"Historical fiction doesn't get much better than this." ( School Library Journal)
"Packed with incident, alive with comedy and pathos...contains pretty much everything you could ask of a novel." ( The New York Times Book Review)

Gosh, was hoping for so much more

The Australian Jesse James and Abe Lincoln all rolled into one; perhaps those with more knowledge of the tale will enjoy this book; it is "historical fiction;" the known facts are all in there, but the rest (childhood, Ned Kelly's relationship with his mother, etc.), are made up. So it is sort of an interesting psychological profile of the man who dared to stand up to the English; and to take on the corruption which resulted from Australia's beginnings as an English penal colony. But in the end, you don't really know why he did it; even with all the psychological profiling. So, what was the point of all that?

The work is supposedly based on writings by Kelly, newly discovered. And, in fact, some of his writings were discovered in the late 1980's. Perhaps some judicious abridgement would help this book, but I struggled to finish it.

The narration is ok; but it is troubled by some repetition of the word "adjectival" . . . reminiscent of the use of "expletive deleted" in the Nixon tapes. Even if that is how they really talked back then, it was a bit much.

Interesting read

I appreciate the author not using profanity and instead using the word adjectival to replace that. Also F & S instead of the actual words which are very much overused in our society today. Interesting story.

Australia’s “Wild West” Outlaw

As an American I had never even heard of the legend Ned Kelly and the mythos surrounding him, so I was completely blindsided by the absolute magnificence of this tale. A fascinating character whose outlaw behavior against a law enforcement society that was downright cruel turns Kelly into a folk hero and a people’s champion in a manner similar to Jesse James was in the American West. Beautifully written AND performed, this work is a true must listen for everyone.

An 'adjectival' masterpiece of 'effing' prose.

I 'effing' love Peter Carey's prose. An 'adjectival' masterpiece of historical fiction and myth-making.

Go get 'em!

Plucky colonial trailer trash stick it to adjectival pommy b______s. Most enjoyable.

great book!

I really loved the characters of this book. I really felt I was on his journey with him. I didnt want it to end

Pain and Misery

Much of the narrative is painful to hear. However, since this is the "true" story it did occur. It got a little much and I'm not one to demand sweetness from all books. It does give insight as to how a society can create criminals.

Great story and narration

The author and narrator combine to create a completely engrossing world and character. It's remarkable how much joy and hope these characters make within the limits of a tough world. (I loved "adjectival" and "cove" and the few other slang terms that are part of the vividness of the story.)

Blew me away. Total addiction.

Would you listen to True History of the Kelly Gang again? Why?

Not sure. It's a powerful story and I'm going to remember it forever.

What was one of the most memorable moments of True History of the Kelly Gang?

There were so many. Probably when he starts to write his own story inside the story. He was an idealist born in a terrible environment.

Have you listened to any of Gianfranco Negroponte’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

I don't know.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Yes. When it became clear that the Parliament member would never pay attention to him -- his righteous cause would be neglected. All he wanted to do was work a farm while he was pushed and shoved by his family, the police, and the corrupt system to become an outlaw.

Any additional comments?

Loved it. It's inspired me to see where he lived in Australia. Good excuse to visit that country again and see where one of it's great heroes lived and died.

feels like ned is speaking

so well written that it makes me truly guess if Ned had written it himself. really gives a window into colonial life in Australia.