Out of Ireland
Out of Ireland is a 1999 novel by Christopher Koch that tells the story of Irish 'gentleman-convict' Robert Devereux and his transportation to Van Diemen's Land (Tasmania). Koch observed that Out of Ireland was an exploration of his "interest in the idea that the past resonates off the future."[1] The novel is considered uniquely Tasmanian because of the way it deals with convict ancestry[2] and emphasizes the island's geographic isolation.[3]
.jpeg.webp) First edition | |
| Author | Christopher Koch |
|---|---|
| Country | Australia |
| Language | English |
| Genre | Historical Fiction |
| Publisher | Doubleday |
Publication date | 1999 |
| Media type | Print (Hardback & Paperback) |
| Pages | 720 |
| ISBN | 978-0099286974 |
Plot
The novel starts with Devereux, an Irish revolutionary, aboard a convict prison hulk in Bermuda. It then follows his transportation to Van Diemen's Land, his release and subsequent adventures on the island.
Reception
Out of Ireland was well received, winning the Colin Roderick Award in 1999 and the Victorian Premier's Prize for Fiction in 2000.
References
- Wyndham, Susan (October 13, 2012). "A life full of achievements". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved May 21, 2018.
- Habel, Chad (2000). "Christopher Koch, Out of Ireland: no more 'Hiding the Stain'". Australian Literary Studies in the 21st Century: 128-134 [p. 129].
- Genoi, Paul (2000). "Girt by Sea: islands in the novels of Thea Astley and Christopher Koch". Australian Literary Studies in the 21st Century: 121-127 [p. 125].