peter carey true history of the kelly gang

Throughout the novel, Ned Kelly represents himself as a person who was pushed into the life of an outlaw by forces beyond his control.Why does Ned Kelly address his history to his daughter? What effect does he hope it will have on her? What are his motives for writing?.Is Kelly a reliable narrator? Why should his history be more 'true' than other versions of these events? What aspects of Kelly's voice and character convey a feeling of authenticity? Ned Kelly begins by writing that his history 'will contain no single lie may I burn in Hell if I speak false', and much in his narration is concerned with setting the record straight.What complications arise from using fiction to tell the truth? Can a factually based imaginative reconstruction present a truer or more accurate account of people than straightforward nonfiction can? What distinctive pleasures does the historical novel afford? True History of the Kelly Gang is fiction, yet most of the characters in the novel existed as real people and many of the events are based on historical fact.What aspects of Kelly's character and actions might be responsible for his heroic status? What heroic feats does he accomplish in the novel? In what ways does the novel present a realistic rather than mythic or romanticized portrait of the man? Though his legacy is still controversial and some regard him as a criminal and murderer, he is widely seen as a champion of the oppressed and a forerunner of Australian nationalism.

In Australia, Ned Kelly is so revered as a national icon that his image was placed on center stage during the opening ceremonies of the Summer 2000 Olympic Games.

We hope they will provide you with new ways of thinking and talking about a novel that vividly re-creates the life of Australia's most famous and most fascinating outlaw. The introduction, discussion questions, author biography, and suggested reading list that follow are designed to enhance your group's reading of Peter Carey's True History of the Kelly Gang.

Peter carey true history of the kelly gang