The Drover's Wife cover art

The Drover's Wife

The Legend of Molly Johnson

Preview

Try Premium Plus free
1 credit a month to buy any audiobook in our entire collection.
Access to thousands of additional audiobooks and Originals from the Plus Catalogue.
Member-only deals & discounts.
Auto-renews at $16.45/mo after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

The Drover's Wife

By: Leah Purcell
Narrated by: Leah Purcell
Try Premium Plus free

$16.45 per month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy Now for $26.99

Buy Now for $26.99

Confirm Purchase
Pay using voucher balance (if applicable) then card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions Of Use and Privacy Notice and authorise Audible to charge your designated credit card or another available credit card on file.
Cancel

About this listen

Deep in the heart of Australia's high country, along an ancient, hidden track, live Molly Johnson and her children. Husband Joe is away droving, leaving his family in the bush to fend for itself. Molly's children are her world, and life is hard with only their dog, Alligator, and a shotgun for protection - but it can be harder when Joe's around.

Molly's eldest son Danny is the true man of the house, determined to see his mother and siblings safe - from raging floodwaters, hunger and intruders. Danny is mature, but there are some things no child should see. He knows more than most just what it takes to be a drover's wife.

One night, Molly has a visitor - a black 'story keeper', Yadaka. He's on the run from authorities, and exchanges kindness for shelter. Both know that justice in this nation caught between two worlds can be as brutal as its landscape. But in their short time together Yadaka shows Molly a secret truth, and the strength to imagine a different path.

In this brave reimagining of the Henry Lawson short story that has become an Australian classic, Purcell brings us a compelling thriller of our pioneering past that confronts head-on issues of today: race, gender, violence and inheritance.©2021 Leah Purcell (P)2021 Penguin Random House Australia
Fiction Literary Fiction Marriage Heartfelt Inspiring Tear-jerking Thought-Provoking Dogs

What listeners say about The Drover's Wife

Average Customer Ratings
Overall
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    1,535
  • 4 Stars
    174
  • 3 Stars
    42
  • 2 Stars
    8
  • 1 Stars
    6
Performance
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    1,410
  • 4 Stars
    142
  • 3 Stars
    28
  • 2 Stars
    8
  • 1 Stars
    3
Story
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    1,376
  • 4 Stars
    163
  • 3 Stars
    31
  • 2 Stars
    10
  • 1 Stars
    6

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    2 out of 5 stars

Too miserable for words

If you want a story that never fails to deliver on rape, violence and all manner of abuse, this is the book for you. I found it utterly miserable from start to finish.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

9 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

The best Australian story in years

Heart-warming, tragic and truly Australian. The best Australian story in years. Perfectly narrated. Can't wait for the next one!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Deadly History

Well performed. Well written. An unveiling of cultural truths in the telling. I look forward to seeing it on the big screen.

On many occasions I caught myself in awe of the author's ability to create vivid word pictures describing characters and Country. I also respect and applaud the natural blending of language.

The narration / narrator is truly gifted in both word and song.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

A wonderful listen

Loved everything about this book and enjoyed it thoroughly. The performance of the narrator (the author herself!) was absolute magic - a true storyteller. I could listen all day…. Thanks so much!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Loved Every second of this book

What and amazing book, had me from the first words cannot recommend this book enough.
Can’t wait for the next one

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

A interesting story

A interesting story awaits the listener, it is well read and worth the lump in the throat.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Comes to life

I recommend listening to the story. I was swept into each scene to glimpse the hardship of that time.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Narator was excellent

What a great story and read by an excellent Narator. Congratulations on doing a really great job telling this story. Loved listening to it.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Superb

Everything about this novel was wonderful. Superb and heartfelt narration, glorious word pictures and a tribute to the women of the time. loved it from the first to last word. Thank you Leah Purcell.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Brilliant

entranced from the start. loved the narration by Leah could close my eyes and could visualise how it all played out. this book should be studied in all high schools in this country. can't wait to see the movie now. thank you for sharing this story

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

In the spirit of reconciliation, Audible acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.