First published 1972
Jimmie Blacksmith, a mixed-race farmhand, endures endless abuse from his white boss. When Jimmie's white wife is murdered, he snaps and embarks on a violent rampage, lashing out at the landowners who have oppressed him. As Jimmie's grisly acts of retribution escalate, the stakes rise and a manhunt closes in. At its core, this is the tragic story of a man pushed too far, driven to extremes by the injustice and racism that have defined his life.
Genres: literary-fiction, historical-fiction, abuse, crime, 19th-century
Vibes: atmospheric, dark, emotional, thought-provoking
Tropes: man-pushed-too-far, tragic-hero
Setting: Australia
Period: 19th Century
178 pages · Hardcover · Viking Press
Content warnings: abuse, racism, violence