Sons of men

It is the late 1870’s and the setting for this story is both London and a remote Island in Bass's Strait.

William Sutherland is an English gentleman of means. In London he lives a somewhat idle life where his boredom is punctuated by parties; his investments; and, a stormy relationship with Jessica Windsor. When Jessica’s family move to Van Dieman’s Land, William’s life is thrown into turmoil. He writes constantly to ‘My Darling Jessica’ and when at last he receives a return letter he rushes to the end of the earth, against his mother's wishes, to ask for Jessica's hand in marriage only to find that she has announced her engagement to Thomas Pickering.

Unable to admit to his family and peers in London that he has been turned down by Jessica in favour of another man he applies for a post as Assistant Head Lighthouse Keeper on remote Governor King’s Island in Bass’s Strait. The island of course is where the action begins. For William it is a cultural shock as his life twists and turns both from coming to grips with his surroundings and his work colleagues; and, personally as he negotiates his way through his tenure on the island; ghosts from the past; and, his relationship with his present peers.

As the story progresses we find it is true to say there is nothing that a father won't do for his son whether it be to protect him no matter the cost to himself; mourn his passing in a strange and bizarre way; or, accept his responsibility and claim him as his own.

I don’t want to give the story line away so let me just say this is a pretty exciting story with a huge climax …