Restless Dolly Maunder by Kate Grenville Published by Text Publishing, April 2024.

Sarah Catherine of Currabubula, better known as Dolly, did not grow up in a time meant for her.

Born in the late 1800’s with a 21st century mind, Dolly was not a woman who endeavoured to be played as a man’s pawn or settle into life as a wed woman with little right of her own to land, money, business or education.

Dolly grew up in rural New South Wales in a poor farming family.

Little to no money, it was expected that Dolly would marry for stability and learn quickly how to be a good wife, mother and maintain a household.

Bert wasn’t her first choice. In fact, he was her parents' choice and not one made out of love. Bert showed strength over a set of shearing shears and had a twinkle in his eye that kept all those in conversation engaged with him, captivated almost. Down the line, Dolly finds out this twinkle is more of a curse than an attraction.

One thing Dolly can admire about Bert is that he’s a fellow who isn’t afraid of a woman, or his wife, driving business decisions, financial ventures or risks. This leads Dolly, Bert and their three children to buying, living and managing numerous pubs and boarding houses throughout New South Wales.

There are times of gushing financial profit, infidelity, and relationship tension, and there is also the extremely unexpected Great Depression.

Kate’s fictional recount of her Grandmother explores and digs deep into the intergenerational distance between the women in her family, and the impact that this had on Kate’s own childhood. This novel and many more are the reason why Kate Grenvillie is one of Australia’s most well-known and cherished authors.

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