Karrana

It’s the aftermath of the Second World War in the lush valley of Karrana, a fictional town on the north coast of New South Wales, Australia. This novel fits into the broad genre of Women’s Fiction, since it explores themes to do with love and family. It examines these issues through the prism of the postwar years in country Australia and in Sydney, but the themes are still relevant in society today. It’s about love, passion and the search for real fulfilment within a relationship. At a victory dance, Bridie meets and falls in love with Will from the other side of the river. Both lack life experience and contentment within their families. Bridie feels powerless when confronted with family and social obstacles to her dreams of a life with her chosen partner. The third persona in this narrative is that of Nature itself, permeating the novel from the beginning to the end. Dramatic irony deems that Bridie’s inner temperament and creative flair, drive her to want more from life than nature alone. She is confronted with a choice that could destroy the security of her life and that of her family in Karrana.