Bridies Fire by Kirsty Murray

Bridies Fire is an historical novel set in Ireland and Australia. It starts in the potato famine of the 1840s. We watch with Bridie as the potato crop fails and her family die of starvation. It is a a desperate beginning and keeps you interested in the time and place. Bridie presents as a resilient child, determined and caring.

Bridie immigrates to Australia under the Earl Grey Orphan Scheme and becomes an indentured servant. I didn't find this part of the story so interesting. The voyage (4 months) seemed to be without incident yet we did not get a feeling of the boredom or hardships of the trip. We did however get introduced to other girls and tracking their fates - nicely done in the story - gives an insight into the terrible conditions endured by these girls.

Historical novels, to me, offer a fine opportunity for action and adventure. Kirsty Murray sets up good opportunities int he story but fails to deliver the action scenes. For instance, the scene where the camp is attacked by bushrangers and Bridie saves the day by arousing the camp and finally shooting one of them takes only 2 pages. Nor do we really feel the terror or the guilt she tells us she feels. Bridie seems to be resilient but she lacks bravdo. Historical novels used to be action packed. Authors like Rosemany Sutcliff (Eagle of the Ninth) Cynthia Hartnett (The Woolpack) RM Ballantyne (Coral Island) Nan Chauncey (They Found a Cave) gave us a thrilling adventure as well as a trip back in time. I am still looking for it.