As with Ion Idriess's [b:Red Chief|22755380|The Red Chief|Ion L. Idriess|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1467513484l/22755380._SY75_.jpg|4143835], the remarkable Eric Willmot tells this (flawed - grammar and typos) story of another great Aboriginal warrior Pemulwuy from an Indigenous perspective. Pemulwuy is a book that has been on my bookshelf for 20 years. It leapt out at me after the uneasy residual feeling arising from Kate Grenville's [b:A Room Made of Leaves|50993145|A Room Made of Leaves|Kate Grenville|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1666316382l/50993145._SY75_.jpg|75838765]. All three of these books are written as novels but I certainly feel more comfortable with Eric Willmot's historical accuracy than with Grenville's account. Eric Willmot was a recognised authority on Pemulwuy.

Following an important Background, the story of Pemulwuy is framed within a structure of three parts of truth which arise from a story told by an old man (Mundi) to children about the spirits entering Yunada...

"That Yanada was seen to be mad is the first part of truth that we we can see easily." ...
"This," said the old man, "is the second part of truth, the truth is other people's minds."
The old man stopped and smiled almost to himself.
"There is a third and final part to truth. It is the secret truth within each person.
The old man paused
"Tell us Mundi," called one of the children. "What is the secret?"
"No," he said, "I shall tell you what becomes of Yanada. You must think of this last ruth yourselves." p.117-118

The subtlety of framing the story as he does escapes me but I'm convinced that is my failing rather than any shortcoming by Eric Willmot. Essentially we read about a series of skirmishes culminating in the defeat and despair that reverberates today.

Willmot proposes that the main reason so little is known (even now) about how the great warrior Pemulwuy fought against the British for more than a decade and went close to driving them out of Tuhbowgule (Eora name for Sydney Harbour) is that the Rum Corps made no mention in reports back to England of him or the war they were fighting for fear that reinforcements would be sent and their corrupt practices disturbed.
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Wow this book was good!
Pemulwuy was one of Australia's first genuine champion. A Bidjigal man, he united the local people in a war against the British spanning twelve years that pushed them almost to the brink. In school you learn about the first landing, the terrible living conditions & the harsh climate. This is the story of what really happened & the beginning of the decline of the Aborigines.....
This book was really well written. Willmot's descriptions jump off the page & I really enjoyed how he'd intersperse the story with little snippets of information, eg, describing the Eora warriors spear throwing style (yikes!) The descriptions came alive in my mind, I could see Pemulwuy & Awabakal striding through the bush & despaired with Bennelong when he realises the situation's hopeless.
Personally, I think this book should be on the curriculum in all Australian schools. ( )

A very interesting view of the early establishment of the British settlement of the east coast of Australia and the level of resistance by aboriginal tribes around Sydney during the first 20-25 years. That it has taken over 200 years to be written is a sign we still have a long way to go in our treatment of the original inhabitants, ( )

Pemulwuy was a leader of the Eora people - the Aboriginal langauge group that lived where Sydney now stands. This is the story of the resistance of the Aboriginal people to the invasion of their lands.
A gripping novel of an aspect of Australia's contact history not often written about. ( )