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AbstractHistoryArchive Description
'The Hurlingford family have ruled the small town of Byron, nestled in the Blue Mountains, for generations. Wealthy, powerful and cruel, they get what they want, every time.
'Missy Wright lives with her widowed mother and crippled aunt in genteel poverty. Hurlingfords by birth, all three are victim to the family's rule of inheritance: the men take it all. Plain, thin and unforgivably single, it seems Missy's life is destined to be dreary.
'But then a stranger arrives in town. A divorcee from Sydney. And she opens Missy's eyes to the possibility of a happy ending.'
Source : publisher's blurb
Notes
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Dedication: For Mother, who has finally attained her dream of living in the Blue Mountains.
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Also published as part of a Reader's Digest Condensed Book (1987, 1989).
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McCullough was accused of plagiarizing this novel from The Blue Castle by Canadian author, L. M. Montgomery. (Source : Mary Jean DeMarr Colleen McCullough : A Critical Companion (1996); also Clippings relating to charges that Colleen McCullough plagiarized material from The Blue Castle for her novel The Ladies of Missalonghi (L. M. Montgomery collection, National Library of Canada)).
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Also translated into other languages not listed here.
Publication Details of Only Known VersionEarliest 2 Known Versions of
Other Formats
- Also large print, sound recording and braille.
Works about this Work
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Portrayal of Librarians in Australian Creative Writing Australian Library Journal
2011
single work
criticism
— Appears in: The Australian Library Journal , June vol. 60 no. 2 2011; (p. 144-154) 'An exploration is made of the ways in which librarians have been depicted in Australian creative writing. Reference is made to characters in novels, short stories, drama and poetry. With respect to novels, there is some consideration of characterisation and its relationship to plot.' Michael Middleton. -
To Hell With the Critics, Colleen Writes for Herself
1990
single work
criticism
biography
— Appears in: The Courier-Mail , 6 October 1990; (p. wkd 4) -
Colleen Takes Juicy Jaunt Through Decadent Roman History
1990
single work
criticism
biography
— Appears in: The Saturday Mercury , 6 October 1990; (p. 17) -
Here's to You Mrs Robinson
1989
single work
biography
— Appears in: The Australian Magazine , 18-19 November 1989; (p. 30-38) -
Double Trouble Part Three : Don Quixote on Wall Street
1989
single work
criticism
— Appears in: Meanjin , Winter vol. 48 no. 2 1989; (p. 284-290)
-
Hits and Misses, and Missalonghi
1987
single work
review
— Appears in: The Weekend Australian , 16-17 May 1987; (p. 14)
— Review of The Ladies of Missalonghi 1987 single work novel -
Low-Key Colleen Takes Dig Socially
1987
single work
review
— Appears in: The Courier-Mail , 2 May 1987;
— Review of The Ladies of Missalonghi 1987 single work novel -
McCullough's Blue Mountains Fairytale
1987
single work
review
— Appears in: The Canberra Times , 20 June 1987; (p. B5)
— Review of The Ladies of Missalonghi 1987 single work novel -
McCullough's New Ro-mance
1987
single work
review
— Appears in: The Sydney Morning Herald , 2 May 1987; (p. 47)
— Review of The Ladies of Missalonghi 1987 single work novel -
McCullough's Women Will Keep You Cheering
1987
single work
review
— Appears in: The Mercury , 13 June 1987;
— Review of The Ladies of Missalonghi 1987 single work novel -
Here's to You Mrs Robinson
1989
single work
biography
— Appears in: The Australian Magazine , 18-19 November 1989; (p. 30-38) -
Portrayal of Librarians in Australian Creative Writing Australian Library Journal
2011
single work
criticism
— Appears in: The Australian Library Journal , June vol. 60 no. 2 2011; (p. 144-154) 'An exploration is made of the ways in which librarians have been depicted in Australian creative writing. Reference is made to characters in novels, short stories, drama and poetry. With respect to novels, there is some consideration of characterisation and its relationship to plot.' Michael Middleton. -
Colleen Takes Juicy Jaunt Through Decadent Roman History
1990
single work
criticism
biography
— Appears in: The Saturday Mercury , 6 October 1990; (p. 17) -
To Hell With the Critics, Colleen Writes for Herself
1990
single work
criticism
biography
— Appears in: The Courier-Mail , 6 October 1990; (p. wkd 4) -
Double Trouble Part One : One or Two Women?
1989
single work
criticism
— Appears in: Meanjin , Winter vol. 48 no. 2 1989; (p. 269-275) Meanjin , Summer vol. 69 no. 4 2010; (p. 83-88)
Last amended 23 Sep 2020 11:13:23
Settings:
- Blue Mountains, Sydney, New South Wales,
- Country towns,
- Bush,
- 1900s
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