"A Town Like Alice" is a novel about a young Englishwoman, who is captured by Japanese forces during World War II and forced to march with other women and children across Malaya. During her ordeal, she meets an Australian prisoner of war, whom she later seeks out in Australia after the war. With the help of an unexpected inheritance, she uses her entrepreneurial spirit to transform a desolate Australian town into a thriving community, similar to a quaint English village she once knew, hence creating a 'town like Alice'.

"Rites of Passage" is a historical novel that explores the journey of a young aristocrat, Edmund Talbot, who is traveling from England to Australia in the early 19th century. The story is told through Talbot's journal entries, which provide a detailed account of life aboard the ship, including the social dynamics, the harsh conditions, and the psychological struggles faced by the passengers and crew. The novel also delves into themes of class, power, and the human condition, culminating in a tragic event that forces Talbot to confront his own prejudices and assumptions.

The book is a classic example of 19th-century Australian literature, set against the backdrop of the Australian gold rush era. It follows the life and adventures of the titular character, who leaves England to settle in Australia. Through his eyes, readers experience the challenges and triumphs of colonial life, including interactions with the indigenous population, the camaraderie among settlers, and the impact of the gold rush on society and the environment. The narrative weaves together themes of friendship, love, loss, and the quest for fortune, all while painting a vivid picture of Australian landscapes and the rugged life of its early European settlers.

This novel is a Victorian tale of justice and reform, focusing on the experiences of a man wrongfully imprisoned due to the machinations of a rival. Within the grim walls of the prison, he endures harsh treatment and witnesses the corruption and brutality of the penal system. The narrative weaves together themes of love, betrayal, and the quest for redemption, as the protagonist's friends work tirelessly to clear his name. Throughout the story, the author exposes the flaws of the contemporary justice system and advocates for social change, emphasizing the moral that it's never too late to correct a wrong and seek to improve oneself and society.

This novel weaves together the lives of diverse characters through a narrative that spans decades, centering on a teenage runaway with psychic abilities. As she becomes embroiled in a covert war between immortal factions, the story explores themes of mortality, power, and the interconnectedness of human lives. The intricate plot moves through different times and places, revealing a hidden world of mysticism and a looming apocalyptic crisis, all while examining the impact of our actions on the future of the planet.

Set in the late 18th century, the narrative revolves around a group of British convicts and their naval officers sent to an Australian penal colony. Amidst the harsh conditions, an ambitious young lieutenant decides to put on a play with the convicts as a means to rehabilitate them and raise morale. The story explores themes of redemption, the transformative power of art, and the complexities of the human condition as the convicts rehearse and navigate their personal struggles, social dynamics, and the rigid class structures imposed by their captors. The play within the book becomes a catalyst for change, challenging the characters' perceptions of punishment, civilization, and what it means to be a 'good' person in a society that has branded them as outcasts.

Set in the 19th century, this novel follows a group of Englishmen who, driven by different motivations, set off on a voyage to Tasmania. The group includes a vicar who believes Tasmania is the site of the Garden of Eden, and a doctor who is interested in studying the 'inferior' races. When they arrive, they encounter the harsh realities of British colonial rule and the near-extinction of the native population. The story is told from multiple perspectives, including that of a Tasmanian man, which provides a broad view of the cultural and social complexities of the era.