This photo is from the archives to match today's book - the big Ned Kelly at Glenrowan, the location of Kelly's last stand.
A book I have read recently
Another from the Australian list, True History of the Kelly Gang by Peter Carey. I have not read any of Peter Carey's books thinking they would be too literary for me. As such this book was a surprise, it was very engaging. Another reason I was reluctant is the business of putting a positive slant on the life of outlaws - Ned was a horse thief, killed police, robbed banks, wore a unique armour and is an Australian folk hero. I liked the insights and perspective offered but can't help feeling a 'victim impact statement' might change the lens (similarly for the Chant of Jimmy Blacksmith, another bushranger story I covered a few weeks ago).
That statue looks "larger than life" so typical of Australia's passion for "big" things to commemorate the uniqueness of a particular town. I have never been to Glenrowan and am afraid Ned Kelly would not draw me to visit this town. He did nothing worthy of making him an Australian folk hero.
ReplyDeleteI went there because I was collecting photos of "big things". We had morning tea at the cafe and moved on without visiting the Ned Kelly museum.
DeleteSometimes small towns have to do what they have to do to get the tourists in I guess 😊
ReplyDeleteI agree. Having Ned hold up the town is today's pure tourist gold.
DeleteThe statue is gigantic. From what I learned about him, I agree with Shirley that he shouldn't have been considered a hero.
ReplyDeleteThe problem is he, his family and other poor Irish settlers do appear to have been victimised by the police. But if you seek to equalise things through crime I guess you can expect the police to come knocking regularly.
DeleteI haven't read much about him, only heard the name in passing. Quite a statue.
ReplyDeleteA famous Australian artist Sidney Nolan did a series on him using a stylised version of his armour boosting his fame even further.
DeleteSee here https://www.google.com/search?q=sidney+nolan+ned+kelly&rlz=1C5CHFA_enAU821AU821&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjm3pO46oDhAhXbWysKHYbGADEQ_AUIDigB&biw=1200&bih=578
This Ned is as huge as his fame. I love that you make time to read as much as you do.
ReplyDeleteI am enjoying the exploration of books I would not otherwise read. For my Australian reading I am working my way through the ABC First Tuesday Bookclub top 50 books - I've currently read only 22 of them so a way to go and some of them are very big so will take me a while.
Deletehttps://writereaderly.wordpress.com/about/first-tuesday-top-50/
I know nothing of him but he sounds like he has a mythic stature similar to some of the outlaws of the U.S. "Old West."
ReplyDeleteYes I think it is a similar thing. He is a bit of a Robin Hood too because he is said to have spread the takings from his bank robberies among family and friends in need.
DeleteI don´t know, guess I am happy I never had a Ned Kelly Pie at Jesters... Cause I agree, too, those acts he did don´t really make him a hero. No Robin Hood he was, I guess, how come he is considered a hero for so many, I wonder.
ReplyDeleteI don't think he is really considered a hero today, more a colourful hero from the past.
DeleteVisited Glenrowan and have read a bit about Ned recently. He's definitely a product of his time, with all the anti Irish and anti working class sentiment around. With little opportunity to make a comfortable life for your family and being victimised by police it's little wonder his entire family led a life of crime.
ReplyDeleteYou set me thinking about my own family history in that era. It is a very Australian story which includes Irish, a convict, a horse thief, a poacher, gold miners, selectors on poor land, labourers and domestics. Most of them could be considered poor or hard done by. But the ones I admire are those that made a go of it by moving to where opportunity existed, getting by with little, helping each other out in the hard times and working for the rich rather than stealing from them to get ahead.
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