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The Remarkable Mrs Reibey
The extraordinary story of Mary Reibey - immortalised on the Australian $20 note, Australia's first female entrepreneur and the most powerful woman in colonial history.
In 1791, teenage runaway and sometime horse thief Mary Reibey narrowly escaped the English gallows with transportation to the brutal new penal colony at Sydney Cove.
It was the beginning of a 60-plus year story of bravery and tenacity - within two decades Mary would overcome the stigma of her convict past to become the richest woman in colonial Australia.
Finding love early on her arrival in the new colony, Mary went on to develop a family business which grew to include a fleet of merchant vessels. Widowed at just 33 and with seven children to support, Mary would oversee the growth of that business to an international trading empire and go on to expand what is now Sydney's thriving business district while helping to bankroll many of the colony's first public services.
Shipping magnate, real estate mogul, working mum and philanthropist - this engaging and meticulously researched portrait by the acclaimed author of bestsellers such as Mrs Kelly , Banks , Banjo and Monash reveals a colourful character of remarkable determination and foresight who became one of Australia's first heroes as a brutal, remote British outpost was transformed into one of the most prosperous places on earth.
In 1791, teenage runaway and sometime horse thief Mary Reibey narrowly escaped the English gallows with transportation to the brutal new penal colony at Sydney Cove.
It was the beginning of a 60-plus year story of bravery and tenacity - within two decades Mary would overcome the stigma of her convict past to become the richest woman in colonial Australia.
Finding love early on her arrival in the new colony, Mary went on to develop a family business which grew to include a fleet of merchant vessels. Widowed at just 33 and with seven children to support, Mary would oversee the growth of that business to an international trading empire and go on to expand what is now Sydney's thriving business district while helping to bankroll many of the colony's first public services.
Shipping magnate, real estate mogul, working mum and philanthropist - this engaging and meticulously researched portrait by the acclaimed author of bestsellers such as Mrs Kelly , Banks , Banjo and Monash reveals a colourful character of remarkable determination and foresight who became one of Australia's first heroes as a brutal, remote British outpost was transformed into one of the most prosperous places on earth.
368 pages, Paperback
Published May 3, 2023
70 people are currently reading
279 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 55 reviews
July 28, 2023
Gripping story and its all true! Very readable. Mrs Reiby is indeed remarkable. Her story should be more widely known. People may know she's on the $20 note but hardly anybody knows why.
August 14, 2023
What an amazing woman! To quote that clown who shall not be named "if you have a go, you'll get a go". Mary certainly had a go. There was quite a bit of luck involved, but she took advantage of every bit of luck which came her way, and, when combined with her intelligence, she made the most of it. Mary most likely would not have had such success if she were in any other country, because women were not permitted to engage in trade or own property, but Australia back in her day was a place where any enterprising person could turn their life around and make a good living. Thank you Grantlee for documenting this wonderful woman and her story.
June 21, 2023
This is a beautiful and full account of the story of how a "cross dressing horse thief and transported convict" became one of the most influential and wealthy women in the fledgling English prison colony of New South Wales, Australia.
Mary Haydock was transported as a convict in 1792, having been convicted of stealing a horse. The circumstances for this conviction are quite bizarre, as Mary didn't actually steal the horse, rather she was asked to assist a stranger, the actual horse thief and after all it was much easier to ride to town than walk. However, she was the one who was caught. Mary came from a well off, well respected family line but she, unlike her amiable sister had a rebellious streak that brought her to her conviction. For all their worth her family didn't stand by her other than to plead for her life from having to face the gallows, rather their thinking was that her transportation to the other side of the world would tone down her rebellious nature.
The long voyage as a prisoner was difficult to say the least but owing to only a few female prisoners she and her more unfortunates were able to spend time on deck to take in fresh air. Prisoners were often so tightly mangled that the appalling conditions for these unfortunate people meant death to many. Slave ships were often used and it's impossible to even contemplate the inhumane conditions that were suffered.
However Mary survived and at just seventeen years she married Thomas Reibey in 1794. Thomas Reibey was a Junior Officer on the Britannica. They were married until Thomas died in 1811. Undaunted, Mary took over sole control of their businesses and their children. Managing all this responsibility was an easy step for her as she had to takeover everything when he was away at sea which could mean many months. Mary, now an astute business woman, realised that she could never remarry as all her wealth and property under the law at that time would become her husband's.
Thomas and Mary had seven children for which was extended further by grandchildren. She took her family responsibilities seriously ever mindful of the let down she had suffered from her own family, she financially supported all of them, acquiring land for farming, building homes for her children and venturing further to Van Dieman's land, Tasmania, the cruelest of all of Britain's penal settlements, which didn't daunt this brave heart.
For Mary Reibey uneducated and as a convict on the receiving end of the brutality of New South Wales, a distant memory and now a wealthy woman, she had seen many changes in the colony allowing her and her family and much extended family wonderful opportunities which she had grabbed hold of to become a business woman of great accuman. In Britain the tuition she paid for the Reibey boys brought dividends with the boys being accepted into Trinity College. In 1840 the grandsons of a "horse thief" became the first Australians to be admitted into Trinity College, Oxford.
Mary, amongst many realised that the rum and foreign currency, IOU's etc used at this time needed to be replaced and as a result she became a founding member of the Bank of New South Wales, now Westpac one of the world's most notable banks.
Among other remaining historical insights and effects of this extraordinary woman is Stanmore house that Mary built for her daughter Elizabeth Long Innes which still stands although altered to suit past institutions serving as a children's home, home for deaf children, accommodation centre and a conference centre. A house nearby sold for $3,011,000.00, 06 May 2023, Mary would be ecstatic!
Among her extended family achievements, grandson Sir George Innes became Solicitor General, Attorney General and Minister for Justice, he negotiated to buy the George Street property of Chisholm House that Mary had bequeathed to his mother, the grand building that is now the GPO (General Post Office) Sydney. Thomas Reibey became Premier of Tasmania.
Mary died aged 78 years in 1855.
($A20 currency note now depicts Mary Reibey)
Mary Haydock was transported as a convict in 1792, having been convicted of stealing a horse. The circumstances for this conviction are quite bizarre, as Mary didn't actually steal the horse, rather she was asked to assist a stranger, the actual horse thief and after all it was much easier to ride to town than walk. However, she was the one who was caught. Mary came from a well off, well respected family line but she, unlike her amiable sister had a rebellious streak that brought her to her conviction. For all their worth her family didn't stand by her other than to plead for her life from having to face the gallows, rather their thinking was that her transportation to the other side of the world would tone down her rebellious nature.
The long voyage as a prisoner was difficult to say the least but owing to only a few female prisoners she and her more unfortunates were able to spend time on deck to take in fresh air. Prisoners were often so tightly mangled that the appalling conditions for these unfortunate people meant death to many. Slave ships were often used and it's impossible to even contemplate the inhumane conditions that were suffered.
However Mary survived and at just seventeen years she married Thomas Reibey in 1794. Thomas Reibey was a Junior Officer on the Britannica. They were married until Thomas died in 1811. Undaunted, Mary took over sole control of their businesses and their children. Managing all this responsibility was an easy step for her as she had to takeover everything when he was away at sea which could mean many months. Mary, now an astute business woman, realised that she could never remarry as all her wealth and property under the law at that time would become her husband's.
Thomas and Mary had seven children for which was extended further by grandchildren. She took her family responsibilities seriously ever mindful of the let down she had suffered from her own family, she financially supported all of them, acquiring land for farming, building homes for her children and venturing further to Van Dieman's land, Tasmania, the cruelest of all of Britain's penal settlements, which didn't daunt this brave heart.
For Mary Reibey uneducated and as a convict on the receiving end of the brutality of New South Wales, a distant memory and now a wealthy woman, she had seen many changes in the colony allowing her and her family and much extended family wonderful opportunities which she had grabbed hold of to become a business woman of great accuman. In Britain the tuition she paid for the Reibey boys brought dividends with the boys being accepted into Trinity College. In 1840 the grandsons of a "horse thief" became the first Australians to be admitted into Trinity College, Oxford.
Mary, amongst many realised that the rum and foreign currency, IOU's etc used at this time needed to be replaced and as a result she became a founding member of the Bank of New South Wales, now Westpac one of the world's most notable banks.
Among other remaining historical insights and effects of this extraordinary woman is Stanmore house that Mary built for her daughter Elizabeth Long Innes which still stands although altered to suit past institutions serving as a children's home, home for deaf children, accommodation centre and a conference centre. A house nearby sold for $3,011,000.00, 06 May 2023, Mary would be ecstatic!
Among her extended family achievements, grandson Sir George Innes became Solicitor General, Attorney General and Minister for Justice, he negotiated to buy the George Street property of Chisholm House that Mary had bequeathed to his mother, the grand building that is now the GPO (General Post Office) Sydney. Thomas Reibey became Premier of Tasmania.
Mary died aged 78 years in 1855.
($A20 currency note now depicts Mary Reibey)
June 15, 2023
As always with this author easily read history bringing the characters to life with pertinent commentary on the historical events .. a little bit ‘padded out’ in first half of book with a lot of historical context although interesting in itself. A tinge of romanticising with referral to her as an early cross dresser but nevertheless her fascinating life well told and her legacy of institutions, buildings and trading made clear. A shame her home in Newtown was demolished but happily many other of her buildings remain.
September 29, 2023
True story about Mary Reibey. Very easy to read and follow with lots of interesting facts and written in a way one could visualise what it was like in those times. Thank goodness I’ve not had to be a convict on a transportation ship! It also made me sit back and think about how people wrote letters and journals detailing lots of things about how they felt and what they spent or ate. It is how the biography is constructed. Can we do that today? Do social media accounts hold the same information and do people keep journals like they did back then?
Great read!
Great read!
July 11, 2024
What a great book, so much history in so few words. I love the past and present status of landmark properties. There was much heartache but such a rich and full life she had. Loved it!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 5, 2023
If you’re expecting this to be a dry run through Sydney’s early colonial history, think again. It’s testament to Kieza as a storyteller and his subject, the titular Mrs Reibey, that this book reads almost like a truth-is-stranger-than-fiction blockbuster.
The story follows Mary Reibey (born Molly Haydock in Lancashire) as she is arrested for stealing a horse at the age of 14 and sentenced to hang. Keeping herself safe by dressing as a boy, her sentence is commuted to seven years' transportation and she arrives in Sydney in 1792, just four years after European occupation. Two years later she marries mariner Thomas Reibey and the pair embark on a business venture that will see Mary become Sydney’s most successful businesswoman dabbling in property, imports and land ownership, and mother to seven. She will manage it all in a remote and unfamiliar frontier land, alone from an early age following the death of her husband.
A lot of people would have heard of Mary Reibey or maybe even recognise her bespectacled image from the $20 note. But this woman’s story deserves to be told and heard for her amazing accomplishments. Imagine being a young girl arrested at 14 and thrown in jail with a bunch of hardened male criminals awaiting a death sentence??
Alongside the story of Mary, Grantlee tells the tale of the early colony and the characters who make up the first 50 years of European occupation in Australia.
The story follows Mary Reibey (born Molly Haydock in Lancashire) as she is arrested for stealing a horse at the age of 14 and sentenced to hang. Keeping herself safe by dressing as a boy, her sentence is commuted to seven years' transportation and she arrives in Sydney in 1792, just four years after European occupation. Two years later she marries mariner Thomas Reibey and the pair embark on a business venture that will see Mary become Sydney’s most successful businesswoman dabbling in property, imports and land ownership, and mother to seven. She will manage it all in a remote and unfamiliar frontier land, alone from an early age following the death of her husband.
A lot of people would have heard of Mary Reibey or maybe even recognise her bespectacled image from the $20 note. But this woman’s story deserves to be told and heard for her amazing accomplishments. Imagine being a young girl arrested at 14 and thrown in jail with a bunch of hardened male criminals awaiting a death sentence??
Alongside the story of Mary, Grantlee tells the tale of the early colony and the characters who make up the first 50 years of European occupation in Australia.
June 19, 2023
A wonderfully engaging chronicle of early Sydney focussing on one woman and her fascinating life. Grantlee Kieza certainly knows how to make history interesting with detailed research and multitudes of connections to places and attitudes that are so relevant today. What a great read.
November 8, 2023
True story. Amazing lady.
November 24, 2023
As the title suggests, Mrs Reibey was indeed a remarkable woman, and I stand in awe of her determination and resilience. At the same time, her story did not grab me in the same way as that of Hudson Fysh or Banks. As always with Grantlee Kieza, this book was well written but it just didn’t have the same appeal to me. I feel that may be partly due to the narration which, though not bad didn’t rest as easily on my ears as other of his books I have listened to. I am thankful, however, to have a better understanding of the factors shaping my life as an Australian, and I look forward to continuing to grow in this regard as I read more of Grantlee Kieza’s books.
November 28, 2023
The Remarkable Mrs Reibey is an excellent book by Grantlee Kieza portraying the life of Mary Reibey.
I'm really glad I read this book and was able to learn more about the life and history of this amazing woman in colonial times.
It was interesting hearing about her properties around Launceston in Tasmania.
Don't let this one slip by you!
I'm really glad I read this book and was able to learn more about the life and history of this amazing woman in colonial times.
It was interesting hearing about her properties around Launceston in Tasmania.
Don't let this one slip by you!
July 17, 2023
It was great to be able to read the story of Mary Reibey. I did find the amount of historical information in the beginning a bit off putting, but could see how it was needed for context. What a life and what determination, being in the right place at the right time, and being able to take advantage of her opportunities. I enjoyed reading about women being successful.
Read
September 2, 2023Once again, Grantlee Kieza has told a fascinating and fact rich history of one of Australia's most famous early pioneers.
Mary Reibey went from a convicted horse thief to one of the most prominent people in the fledgling colony.
It is due to the influence of people like Mary Riebey that the colony of Australia prospered.
Well done Grantlee.
Mary Reibey went from a convicted horse thief to one of the most prominent people in the fledgling colony.
It is due to the influence of people like Mary Riebey that the colony of Australia prospered.
Well done Grantlee.
August 22, 2023
Fascinating read about Mary Reibey ( on the Australian $20.00 note). Great research from Grantlee Kieza. Having seven children to look after she established thriving businesses in colonial Sydney.
December 9, 2024
Not sure if this was really an autobiography of Mary Reibey or a thinly disguised tome dedicated to the history of foundling Australia. I read another review of this book and in it, the reviewer said the author had basically just copied and pasted big reams of stuff from his previous book on Governor Macquarie, and quite frankly, that makes a lot of sense as it was quite thin on actual Reiby-related info.
It reminded me of another book-club book we read this year 'The Time of Her Life' (also a biography on a woman) which was also very badly padded out with boring historical facts. The difference between the two of them was the other book was about animals whereas this one at least offered a few interesting tidbits about how Australia began. I gave the other book a 2 so I feel its only fair to give this one a 3 as I enjoyed it (marginally) better.
What made it tolerable was the parts that described infant Sydney City and I enjoyed trying to match up the locations and landmarks described with what I know of modern Sydney. I also liked how the author included information about our First Nations people, and wasnt shy about describing the atrocities that took place. Having only been given the very white version of the first fleet story as I grew up, it was really refreshing to get an even handed perspective of what happened to our indigenous australians as the europeans settled onshore.
BUT what made it a bit of a snoozefest was all the erraneous info about the interchanging governors, and other people that had nothing to do with the main story. I definitely started skimming over those parts after I got about half way. It was way too long, he should have cut all of that boring stuff out. Oh, and he really needed to add a family tree to the front page as there were so many of the Reiby family by the end I got confused with who was who.
Lastly, I take offence to calling the book The Remarkable Mrs Reibey' - her name was MARY. Why couldn't the book be called The Remarkable *Mary* Reibey ???!! Why does she have to be tied to her husband as if she's a second class citizen?? What annoyed me even more was when I had a look at Kieza's other books related to early Australians, and the biographies about the males all use their first and last name as the book title. Yet if it relates to a female it's 'Mrs'. Misguided misogyny!
It reminded me of another book-club book we read this year 'The Time of Her Life' (also a biography on a woman) which was also very badly padded out with boring historical facts. The difference between the two of them was the other book was about animals whereas this one at least offered a few interesting tidbits about how Australia began. I gave the other book a 2 so I feel its only fair to give this one a 3 as I enjoyed it (marginally) better.
What made it tolerable was the parts that described infant Sydney City and I enjoyed trying to match up the locations and landmarks described with what I know of modern Sydney. I also liked how the author included information about our First Nations people, and wasnt shy about describing the atrocities that took place. Having only been given the very white version of the first fleet story as I grew up, it was really refreshing to get an even handed perspective of what happened to our indigenous australians as the europeans settled onshore.
BUT what made it a bit of a snoozefest was all the erraneous info about the interchanging governors, and other people that had nothing to do with the main story. I definitely started skimming over those parts after I got about half way. It was way too long, he should have cut all of that boring stuff out. Oh, and he really needed to add a family tree to the front page as there were so many of the Reiby family by the end I got confused with who was who.
Lastly, I take offence to calling the book The Remarkable Mrs Reibey' - her name was MARY. Why couldn't the book be called The Remarkable *Mary* Reibey ???!! Why does she have to be tied to her husband as if she's a second class citizen?? What annoyed me even more was when I had a look at Kieza's other books related to early Australians, and the biographies about the males all use their first and last name as the book title. Yet if it relates to a female it's 'Mrs'. Misguided misogyny!
December 10, 2024
I’m so disappointed I chose this book for bookclub, I thought because the library had bought a kit it would be good and it had quite good ratings on Goodreads.
Unfortunately the author seemed to think writing a book is exactly like writing a newspaper article except longer and with zero listening to editor suggestions to edit.
There was obviously a tonne of research which went into the book, but then it seemed to just be put into date order and nothing more done with it.
There was no insight or speculation into who Mary was or what she was like apart from a few tidbits gleaned from her correspondence. It took something which could have been fairly interesting and rendered it dull.
There was so much extraneous information about people who were not Mary that I’m not sure why the book was purported to be about her, she seemed to be merely one of the players in a large cast of characters.
I’m left wondering why Mary built a house on Macquarie place but then immediately wanted to relocate and live elsewhere - what was the motivation? Was she disappointed with how the building turned out? Did she want to make a profit? Did it smell funny? All the research didn’t answer these basic questions which cried out for rather better research or better creative speculation.
I’ve noticed this writer seems to churn out books on lots of early colonists so he’s obviously got a formula and he just kind-of copy pastes his way to a new book each year for the white boomer Christmas market. I wonder if some of them get a surprise when they read the parts about how filthy the colonists were to the indigenous peoples?
Anyway - I guess I learnt some new things about old Sydney town which were interesting but overall it was a pretty disappointing read for me.
Unfortunately the author seemed to think writing a book is exactly like writing a newspaper article except longer and with zero listening to editor suggestions to edit.
There was obviously a tonne of research which went into the book, but then it seemed to just be put into date order and nothing more done with it.
There was no insight or speculation into who Mary was or what she was like apart from a few tidbits gleaned from her correspondence. It took something which could have been fairly interesting and rendered it dull.
There was so much extraneous information about people who were not Mary that I’m not sure why the book was purported to be about her, she seemed to be merely one of the players in a large cast of characters.
I’m left wondering why Mary built a house on Macquarie place but then immediately wanted to relocate and live elsewhere - what was the motivation? Was she disappointed with how the building turned out? Did she want to make a profit? Did it smell funny? All the research didn’t answer these basic questions which cried out for rather better research or better creative speculation.
I’ve noticed this writer seems to churn out books on lots of early colonists so he’s obviously got a formula and he just kind-of copy pastes his way to a new book each year for the white boomer Christmas market. I wonder if some of them get a surprise when they read the parts about how filthy the colonists were to the indigenous peoples?
Anyway - I guess I learnt some new things about old Sydney town which were interesting but overall it was a pretty disappointing read for me.
June 19, 2024
A very well researched book about a fascinating and determined woman. I have given three stars rather than five for two reasons:
– While the book is titled 'The Remarkable Mrs Reibey', I felt that the focus was primarily on Mary only in the first 10% and last 20% of the book. There is a lot of extraneous contextual information – which is of course important in helping us to understand the context in which Mary was able to defy the odds. But in some places, the book felt a lot more like a general history of colonial Australia than it did a biography (maybe a reflection of the amount of personal historical information that is available about Mary Reibey – after all, she wasn't a writer who left behind reams of written insights into her own inner world). At times I wondered whether the title was a marketing ploy designed to fit with the contemporary historical focus on the all-too-often ignored contribution of women, because the narrative often wandered off to follow the (mis)fortunes of many other well-known characters.
– Along these lines, I felt that there was a significant amount of extraneous information included in the narrative that distracted from the main focus and which felt like 'filler' – things like ships' inventories (the number of sheep, cattle, kgs of flour etc). I listened to the audiobook, so it may be that this aspect felt more tedious than if I'd been reading text and able to skim through lists.
However, this is a fascinating tale of early colonial Australia, particularly the development of Sydney. The author's historical research prowess is undoubtable.
– While the book is titled 'The Remarkable Mrs Reibey', I felt that the focus was primarily on Mary only in the first 10% and last 20% of the book. There is a lot of extraneous contextual information – which is of course important in helping us to understand the context in which Mary was able to defy the odds. But in some places, the book felt a lot more like a general history of colonial Australia than it did a biography (maybe a reflection of the amount of personal historical information that is available about Mary Reibey – after all, she wasn't a writer who left behind reams of written insights into her own inner world). At times I wondered whether the title was a marketing ploy designed to fit with the contemporary historical focus on the all-too-often ignored contribution of women, because the narrative often wandered off to follow the (mis)fortunes of many other well-known characters.
– Along these lines, I felt that there was a significant amount of extraneous information included in the narrative that distracted from the main focus and which felt like 'filler' – things like ships' inventories (the number of sheep, cattle, kgs of flour etc). I listened to the audiobook, so it may be that this aspect felt more tedious than if I'd been reading text and able to skim through lists.
However, this is a fascinating tale of early colonial Australia, particularly the development of Sydney. The author's historical research prowess is undoubtable.
March 25, 2024
Historical fiction is a new love of mine and Grantlee K has done a lovely job telling the remarkable tale of the very impressive Mary Reibey. This is someone I knew nothing about, and now I know who the lady on our $20 AUD note is! From a young accidental horse thief teenager to a wealthy entrepreneur and philanthropist, this woman worked hard and overcame some big obstacles for her family.
It’s not a book I would have picked up, and I’m glad my Ashgrove Library Book club suggested reading it!
It’s not a book I would have picked up, and I’m glad my Ashgrove Library Book club suggested reading it!
November 14, 2023
I am not usually a fan of non fiction, but I found this a fascinating story of Mary Reibey. Transported to the colony of New South Wales as a convict, she marries well and displays considerable business acumen, when she is left as a young widow with several children. She lives well into her seventies, outliving most of her children.
January 8, 2025
So fascinating to read as a descendant of Mary Reibey and her daughter Eliza. An interesting story not only from the perspective of appreciating this strong, enterprising woman but also for the insights provided on the government and legal system of the times.
March 25, 2024
Great Australian history book very entertaining
May 12, 2025
The fascinating story of the lady on our 20 dollar note.
January 1, 2025
What a magnificent story from being a young girl convict originally put to death by hanging, to one of Australia's wealthiest land Barron's.
August 7, 2023
This is an another appalling example of the recent Australian attempt to dumb down history. The recipe is to take a tabloid journalist - either Grantlee Keiza or Peter Fitzsimons, they are indistinguishable - employ a platoon of "researchers" to feed copy to the name on the dust jacket, and churn out predictable renditions of "history".
The Remarkable Mrs Reibey is only remarkable in that Kieza got paid twice for the same work he had already published in his Macquarie biography. Apparently he was so taken with the standard of that tome that he quoted it at length in Mrs Reibey. Many years ago, Robert Plant released an album which included samples from Led Zeppelin songs, causing him to remark that he might have to sue himself for plagiarism. Hmmm.
Sadly, because she deserves a better, more scholarly, more nuanced biography, Mrs Reibey comes over as a post script to either her husband's story or Macquaries's. Hopefully in future she will receive the biography she deserves. This book falls way short.
The Remarkable Mrs Reibey is only remarkable in that Kieza got paid twice for the same work he had already published in his Macquarie biography. Apparently he was so taken with the standard of that tome that he quoted it at length in Mrs Reibey. Many years ago, Robert Plant released an album which included samples from Led Zeppelin songs, causing him to remark that he might have to sue himself for plagiarism. Hmmm.
Sadly, because she deserves a better, more scholarly, more nuanced biography, Mrs Reibey comes over as a post script to either her husband's story or Macquaries's. Hopefully in future she will receive the biography she deserves. This book falls way short.
June 30, 2025
I had to clarify that the book itself was very well written and if I was looking to read a book about the first convicts and early Australian history it would have rated higher. My only complaint was that I was looking to read about Mary Reibey and at a guess she really only took up about a quarter of the book and didn't really come into the content much until about half way through (apart from her early life and her conviction). I understand there is only so much you can write about an historical figure, I just assumed the whole book would be about her so that's probably on me.
December 11, 2023
The author obviously thoroughly researched the life of Mrs Reibey and the earlier part of the book was quite entertaining and informative. Towards the end I felt it lost some of the focus on story and developed into a timeline of historical facts which I found a little unnecessary. However this is a story about quite a remarkably successful early Australian business woman and it is nice to see her life celebrated in this story.
October 9, 2023
A remarkable story about a remarkable woman.
• the detail and aside facts are a bit overwhelming
• it is hard to keep track of family members, a family tree would help
• she was industrious, thrifty and sober
• she displayed enterprise, perseverance and philanthropy
• Her image is on the $20 note
• she was a good example to all
• the detail and aside facts are a bit overwhelming
• it is hard to keep track of family members, a family tree would help
• she was industrious, thrifty and sober
• she displayed enterprise, perseverance and philanthropy
• Her image is on the $20 note
• she was a good example to all
February 12, 2025
I've borrowed this book and returned it unread 2 or 3 times. A bout of COVID and after reading The talented Mrs Greenway that mentions Mary Reibey I had the time and was inspired to try again. Well worth it. Originally sentenced as a boy to hang after stealing a horse and attempting to sell it, she was eventually transported to Australia. The rest you will have to read for yourself.
February 18, 2024
I found the information very interesting but the writing was disjointed and hard to follow. I gave in about halfway through when a new character was introduced as a major influence, but wasn't named, and the next three pages didn't refer back to him.
September 9, 2023
Interesting story of a great woman in Australian history. I liked the information but at times was not a fan of the style of writing
Displaying 1 - 30 of 55 reviews