10 Comments

I first heard about Ned Kelly in Peter Carey’s “True History of the Kelly Gang”. I vividly remember thinking he had taken artistic license. He had, he toned some shit down. It’s brilliant, but your summary feels much more true to the level of shenanigans. Bravo, I howled at the insults.

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One if the greatest novels ever written, I reckon

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.. exactly - though as a kid i thought he wuz the Wild Colonial boyo !

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That's the funniest thing I've ever read. Thank you Allison for starting my day laughing out loud.

FYI my friend who grew up in Greta says the descendants of the Kelly family and the police constables shot are still jumpin mad at each other. Don't go trash talking either side!

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I will be extra careful not to restart any centuries-old feuds when I come visit!!

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That’s definitely an insult I would consider using! Great read, as always. Thank you 😊

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I am a somewhat later immigrant to Victoria than yer man John Kelly but his son still regularly pops up in contemporary Oz culture: who stole his skull? where was the actual site where the three policemen were killed? Can representatives of the two opposing teams talk civilly for the cameras? Etc. Greta country is now traversed by a large ('the Hume') Highway which has signs advertising a Kelly country museum which i have never persuaded whoever was driving to pull over and take a look at. The Ned Kelly story does stand as a lesson that Irishmen are not all cute, fey, fiddle playing leprechauns although no doubt some are. Thanks Alison, you gave me a laugh when i needed it!

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may be mistaken.. but recall reading that Ned Kelly’s remains were accidentally bulldozed .. the horror ! 🦎🏴‍☠️⚰️

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So many ongoing stories .... partucularly about brother Dan who is said to have escaped....and NK's skull said to have been stolen... a friend of mine descended from his sister....and on and on. A very Australian hero, and closely linked by time and blood to contemporary Victoria. Along with Lindy Chamberlain's lost baby.

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.. so f’n wondrous .. splendiferous !

by th by.. this stuff of yours.. reminds of ‘The Accidental Deity.. came across that just a ways back - a ‘Historical Literature ‘style - approach.. i thought it a knockout - the author just ‘wades in .. outstanding ! holy hell .. was that you !

ps.. Love & often refer ‘True History of The Kelly Gang.. it had me stumped .. could not process the ‘style .. & accidentally like - was digging for something in the original Huck Finn ‘dictions & written voicing.. or Mississippi river patois .. and found my ‘read immediately into Kelly & the mystical writin.. 🦎🏴‍☠️🎬

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