Aug 25, 2020
Christina Baker Kline, #1 New York Times bestselling author of ORPHAN TRAIN and A PIECE OF THE WORLD, joins Carol to discuss her latest novel, THE EXILES, which is set in Australia in the early 19th century when the country was known for being a penal colony.
Three young women are brought together to tell this story. When Evangeline, a young governess in London, is discovered to be pregnant, she's first sent to a notorious prison, and then to a fourteen-year sentence in Australia. On the ship sailing to this remote land, she meets Hazel, who is sentenced for stealing a silver spoon. The third woman, Mathinna, is native to Tasmania and is seen as a pet project for a wealthy couple. The novel’s structure gives light to multiple perspectives and brings this piece of history to readers who may know little about it.
They discuss the challenges in researching this part of history and Christina’s extensive reading and travel for this book. Carol brings up one of the most interesting turns she's seen in a novel, which they will discuss in very guarded terms to not give anything away. The book is multi-layered and their conversation about it gives it even more dimension for readers as they hear about the inspiration that led to the writing of it.
Books discussed in this episode:
THE EXILES by Christina Baker Kline
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