Precis
The week before
Christmas, 1929, Eoghan O'Keenan loses his factory job, and has to flee the
slums of Chippendale with his seven-year-old sister Agnes. On the north side of
Sydney at Lavender Bay, Olivia Greene is working on her latest millinery
creations and dreaming of becoming the next Coco Chanel.
A job on the
Harbour Bridge for Eoghan, designing couture for the Governor's wife for
Olivia, and a chance meeting in the Botanic Gardens sees the beginning of an
unconventional romance. From vastly different backgrounds, with absolutely
nothing in common - from faith to wealth and class - it seems that the blue
mile of harbour between Olivia and Eoghan will be the least of the obstacles
ahead.
By mid-1932, as
the construction of the Bridge is completed, the city is in chaos as the Great
Depression begins to bite hard and the unemployed edge ever closer to a violent
revolt. And then Eoghan disappears.
Set against the
spectacular backdrop of Sydney Harbour, The Blue Mile is a tale of the
both wild and calculated risks a city took to build a wonder of the world, and
of those taken by ordinary people to save a great love, against all of the
odds.
My review
I borrowed the
audio book of The Blue Mile from my local library. I was looking for material
to give me a ‘feel’ for Sydney during the Great Depression as research for my
current book. Although it is a fictional story line the backdrop of hardship,
politics of the day and the building of the Sydney Harbour Bridge are based on
facts.
The reason I
chose the audio book was to make use of my time driving to and from work –
trying to cram in as much research as possible.
I was already
fairly familiar with the history of the time but still learnt a great deal. As insight into the era and the building of a
major landmark it is accurate and absorbing. The Sydney Harbour is itself a
link between the two characters. It provides work for Eoghan
when finding a job was difficult and inspiration for Olivia’s fashion designs.
The blue mile
refers to the stretch of water in Sydney Harbour between the suburbs where the
two characters, Eoghan O Keenan and Olivia Greene, live. A world apart in relation to
background, financial security and class.
As a love story,
it is enchanting. The characters are believable and, although they come from
different class backgrounds, are well matched. Little Agnes is a delightful
child who has a very grown up attitude to life.
The audio book
is narrated by Zoe Ellerton-Ashley and James
Harvy. Both of these Australian actors brought their characters to life as well
as that of Agnes. James’ Irish accent was delightful to listen to.
I
loved the story and its audio presentation and often wished my trip to work was
longer so I could keep listening.
I
am not a reader of love stories but Miss Kelly has delivered a well-researched
historical fiction/love story with characters I enjoyed immensely. It had me
totally engrossed. I intend to follow up with reading more of her books.
My
rating 5*
