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AbstractHistoryArchive Description
Alexander Kinross is remembered in his native Scotland only as a shiftless boilermaker's apprentice and a godless rebel. But, when he writes from Australia to summon his bride, his Scottish relatives realise that he has made a fortune on the goldfields and is a man to be reckoned with. Arriving in Sydney after a difficult voyage, sixteen-year-old Elizabeth Drummond meets her husband-to-be and discovers that he frightens and repels her. Offered no choice, she marries him and is whisked at once across wild, uninhabited countryside to Alexander's own town, named Kinross after himself. In the crags above it lies the world's richest gold mine. Isolated in Alexander's great house and with no company save Chinese servants, Elizabeth finds that the intimacies of marriage do not prompt her husband to enlighten her about his past life - or his present one. She has no idea that he still has a mistress, the sensuous, tough, outspoken Ruby Costevan. Captured by their very different natures, Alexander resolves to have both Elizabeth and Ruby - why should he not? He has the fabled M̀idas Touch', a combination of curiosity, boldness and intelligence that he applies to every situation and which only fails him when it comes to these two women. For while Ruby loves Alexander desperately, Elizabeth does not. (Source: Trove)
Notes
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Dedication: For Dr. Kevin Coorey who manages to keep me alive; with love and gratitude to a terrific bloke.
Publication Details of Only Known VersionEarliest 2 Known Versions of
Other Formats
- Also sound recording.
Works about this Work
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[Review] The Touch
2004
single work
review
— Appears in: The Asian Review of Books 2004;
— Review of The Touch 2003 single work novel -
Books in Brief
2004
single work
review
— Appears in: The New York Times Book Review , 11 January vol. 109 no. 2 2004; (p. 20)
— Review of The Touch 2003 single work novel -
[Review] The Touch
2003
single work
review
— Appears in: Australian Bookseller & Publisher , November vol. 83 no. 5 2003; (p. 45)
— Review of The Touch 2003 single work novel -
Ah, the Well-Fed Folk of Family Sagas
2003
single work
review
— Appears in: The Sydney Morning Herald , 20-21 December 2003; (p. 12)
— Review of Barra Creek 2003 single work novel ; The Touch 2003 single work novel -
Scenes from a Southern Land
2003-2004
single work
review
— Appears in: The Bulletin , 16 December - 13 January vol. 121 no. 6403 2003-2004; (p. 136-137)
— Review of Three Dog Night 2003 single work novel ; The Colour of Walls 2003 single work novel ; Homecoming 2003 single work novel ; The Touch 2003 single work novel ; A Few Short Notes on Tropical Butterflies 2003 selected work short story ; Scarecrow 2003 single work novel ; The Secret Cure 2003 single work novel ; The Boy 2003 single work novel
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Coy Meets Boy as Family Sagas Visit Old Haunts
2003
single work
review
— Appears in: The Age , 13 December 2003; (p. 3)
— Review of The Touch 2003 single work novel ; Barra Creek 2003 single work novel -
Scenes from a Southern Land
2003-2004
single work
review
— Appears in: The Bulletin , 16 December - 13 January vol. 121 no. 6403 2003-2004; (p. 136-137)
— Review of Three Dog Night 2003 single work novel ; The Colour of Walls 2003 single work novel ; Homecoming 2003 single work novel ; The Touch 2003 single work novel ; A Few Short Notes on Tropical Butterflies 2003 selected work short story ; Scarecrow 2003 single work novel ; The Secret Cure 2003 single work novel ; The Boy 2003 single work novel -
Ah, the Well-Fed Folk of Family Sagas
2003
single work
review
— Appears in: The Sydney Morning Herald , 20-21 December 2003; (p. 12)
— Review of Barra Creek 2003 single work novel ; The Touch 2003 single work novel -
[Review] The Touch
2003
single work
review
— Appears in: Australian Bookseller & Publisher , November vol. 83 no. 5 2003; (p. 45)
— Review of The Touch 2003 single work novel -
Books in Brief
2004
single work
review
— Appears in: The New York Times Book Review , 11 January vol. 109 no. 2 2004; (p. 20)
— Review of The Touch 2003 single work novel
Last amended 22 Jan 2021 12:16:01
Settings:
- Central West NSW, New South Wales,
- 1872-1900
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