Leaving Owl Creek by Sandy Gordon

Fascinating! There is so much to explore in this intriguing novel that interrogates attitudes to life, love, religion, honour, and relationships. It begins with Nick shackled in a hut somewhere in Kashmir taken captive by renegade extremists. Nick engages in conversation with the Mujahid leader, in the hope that a developing comradeship might prolong his life.

Interwoven with the conversations in Kashmir are memories of Nick’s upbringing in Australia. His was the life of one of the privileged landowners, the squattocracy; his life and that of his sister Lilly, of the Maclean family, are contrasted with that of their childhood friend Richard, a Connelly, son of the family that has always worked for the Macleans, and for whom life’s options had always been limited. Nick’s quest to explore life and art, see him succumbing to dangerous extremes, whilst  Richard, using his intellect and determination, overcomes barriers of class, to achieve the success he wants. Yet, we are brought to question how much do each of these individuals really change, and how much do they still imbue the values of their upbringing, values of loyalty and honour and doing the right thing?

The female characters are equally compelling, particularly Lilly, very aware of class and gender issues, but who tries to carve out her own future, at a time when the most that was expected of women of the squattocracy was to attain an advantageous marriage.

And then there is the Mujahid, and his discussions with Nick. Despite their different religions and circumstances, time and again their conversations reveal a mutual understanding and respect, and shared values of honour and bravery.

Gordon’s novel has the potential to become an Australian classic, in its vivid portrayal of a time of change in 1960's Australia, it depiction of underlying shared values across humankind, and its exploration of philosophical themes around the meaning of life.

For an immensely interesting interview with the author see the publisher’s website.

Themes: Philosophy, Meaning of life, Honour, Class, Gender roles, Change.

Helen Eddy