About the book: 2010 / A witty, mocking novel in which James Aldridge plays in his own way with the classic cliches of both Victorian “touching” literature and the “novel of education” "of the 18th century, and typical “Australian” prose, with its strong local flavor. The fascinating story of a poor girl from either a gypsy, or simply a thieves, declassed family, adopted by rich squatters and subsequently exchanging wealth and luxury for the freedom of a free life, amuses and admires, and her heroine, this Huckleberry Finn in a skirt, was more than once called by critics a symbol of the national Australian character.