Description
In 19th-century Australia, a charismatic German naturalist, Johann Ulrich Voss, sets out to penetrate the vast inland—drawing followers to his cause as he pursues discovery, destiny, and a vision of himself that borders on the messianic. In Sydney, he meets Laura Trevelyan, an awkward young orphan whose life becomes entangled with his, turning exploration into a haunting love story shaped by longing, devotion, and misunderstanding. As Voss gathers a motley crew—including Palfreyman, an ornithologist wrestling with faith and doubt—the journey becomes as much about inner conflict as it is about geography. Blending lyrical intensity with psychological depth, the novel examines obsession, belief, and the fragile line between inspiration and ruin in Patrick White’s unmistakably bold, human style.
Available Editions
paperback
Viking
Published Jan 1, 1957
480 pages
ISBN: 9780413413703
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Details
First Published
1957
Language
eng
Content Warnings
No content warnings identified.