R
Rachael Treasure
Jillaroo
Synopsis
Rebecca "Grace" Saunders is the daughter of a hard-nosed sheep farmer in rural Tasmania, more comfortable working dogs and mustering stock than fitting into the role expected of a farmer's daughter. Determined to prove herself as a jillaroo in her own right, she leaves the family property to work stations across the Australian bush, falling in and out of love, clashing with the men who doubt her, and slowly working out what she actually wants from land, work, and family.
Rachael Treasure, who grew up on a Tasmanian farm and worked as a rural journalist, wrote "Jillaroo" out of her own experience of the Australian agricultural world, and the novel is widely credited with launching the "rural lit" or "chook lit" genre in Australian publishing. It combines unsentimental depictions of farm work and the land with a romance plot and became a bestseller on its 2002 release.
Genres
Characters
Rebecca "Grace" SaundersProtagonist
Farmer's daughter working to become a respected jillaroo.
Frequently asked questions
Did this book start a specific trend in Australian literature?
This novel is widely credited with kick-starting the modern boom in Australian rural women's fiction, establishing a sub-genre that focuses on the experiences of women working on the land.
Is this book part of a series?
While it is often categorized as the first entry in a two-book series, it functions as a complete narrative that can be read on its own.
How much of the story is based on the author's own life?
The author drew upon her personal background as a former jillaroo and rural journalist to inform the narrative, specifically incorporating themes regarding the challenges women face in agricultural industries and the importance of spiritual connections to the landscape.