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The Visitors

By: Jane Harrison
Narrated by: Joseph Wunujaka Althouse, Ari Maza Long
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Publisher's Summary

From award-winning author, Jane Harrison, comes an audacious, earthy, funny, gritty and powerful re-imagining of a crucial moment in Australia's history - an unputdownable work of fiction.

WINNER OF THE 2024 INDIE BOOK DEBUT FICTION AWARD

'An extraordinary read.' Herald Sun

On a steamy, hot day in January 1788, seven Aboriginal men, representing the nearby clans, gather at Warrane. Several newly arrived ships have been sighted in the great bay to the south, Kamay. The men meet to discuss their response to these visitors. All day, they talk, argue, debate. Where are the visitors from? What do they want? Might they just warra warra wai back to where they came from? Should they be welcomed? Or should they be made to leave? The decision of the men must be unanimous -- and will have far-reaching implications for all. Throughout the day, the weather is strange, with mammatus clouds, unbearable heat and a pending thunderstorm ... Somewhere, trouble is brewing.

From award-winning author and playwright Jane Harrison, The Visitors is an audacious, earthy, funny, gritty and powerful re-imagining of a crucial moment in Australia's history - and an unputdownable work of fiction.

'Momentous ... heart-shattering to read. Harrison imbues her new storytelling formula with surprising lightness ... candid and delicate.' Sydney Morning Herald

'A remarkable achievement of First Nations storytelling. We live in a time when truths need to be told and heard - this is a generous offering, a story that challenges and ultimately rewards us' Tony Birch, author of The White Girl

'A work of soaring imagination and breathtaking ambition. Jane Harrison upends all our black-and-white assumptions about what happened on that fateful January day in 1788 when eleven tall ships sailed into a safe blue harbour that people already called home. Surprisingly funny, cheeky and tragic by turns, this remarkable novel is bold, brave and unforgettable' Clare Wright, author of You Daughters of Freedom

'Witty, tense, and gut-wrenching ... [it] pulled me inexorably towards a place of profound emotion' Grace Chan, author of Every Version of You

'Intimate, tense, but inviting ... the end of the book is devastating, and even though we know what's coming, we're hopeful for a different ending. The Visitors offers a deep emotional journey. Harrison has written a thoughtful and powerful reimagining of a significant moment in Australian history, from a First Nations perspective.' Books+Publishing

'Powerful ... The Visitors is a masterful, thought-provoking book.' Readings

'Simple ... beautiful and effective.' SA Weekend

©2019 Jane Harrison (P)2023 HarperCollins Publishers

What listeners say about The Visitors

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Thought provoking and ultimately sad

The Visitors is a reimagining of a significant moment in Australia’s colonial history, told from the First Nations perspective. I knew what was coming but kept hoping for a different outcome. It was sad, shameful and thought provoking. More Australians should read, see, hear this story.

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Powerful Indigenous perspective

While I loved the overall premise (the indigenous perspective and the values that lay behind it) and found it fascinating and Illuminating, I feel it would work better as a play - as it clearly has v successfully. Found the huge amount of background information interesting but out of place. It felt stuck in, not integrated into the narrative. Unfortunately, the basic narration was so slow, flat and awkward that I almost gave up several times. Glad I didn’t as the individual elders’ voices were excellent once the meeting finally started. Again, more of a play than a real novel.

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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.