The Far Beyond

Here's a sneak preview of The Far Beyond by Warwick Thompson which Wellsford Librarians have reviewed in their next Local Matters.

A novel of adventure, hardship and courage as the writer builds on the story of his great-grandfather. The facts the book is based upon actually happened but have been turned into an extremely readable fictionalized account by the author.

The story moves from its origins in Sutherland, Scotland to Northern Ireland covering the years of the potato famine then on to England where James Cameron Fraser trains as a marine engineer. James then travels to New Zealand; with authentic experiences based on a diary of the voyage of the Black Swan to arrive in Dunedin. Descriptions of the fledgling town and the beginnings of the gold strikes – hardships, starvation, freezing weather - all are vividly portrayed. Action moves to Auckland and the events surrounding the battles at Mercer and Rangiriri are also sympathetically covered then all is drawn together back in Dunedin.

Well worth reading.