‘Now let me tell you a story about your Wiradyuri miyagan, the people of Marrambidya.’

This book is profound. This book is beautiful. This is a must read. Right from the prologue when the indigenous man is trying to tell a white man not to build his house on the floodplain and he ignores the advice … well, it really sets the scene of what you know will come. I LOVE how this is a novel where tables are finally turned and it is the indigenous observing the settlers and thus shedding a whole new light on white occupation. Yet, there is so much more to this novel - commentary not only on the wrongs of the past, or racial issues but what constitutes family, what is success, what is home. As Anita herself says, My goal in writing this novel was to highlight the heroism of the Wiradyuri men who braved the dangerous floods to bring locals to safety.

‘We could teach them a lot, if they just listened,’ Yarri adds.

At surface level this is the story about a young girl,Wagadhanaay, who works for a family in their house (the original family and foundations that were discussed in the prologue!) when the devastating floods come through (as predicted!) The story then goes on to regale the life of Wagadhanaay with both her work and her miyagan (family). I love the contrast between her and Louisa, a Quaker woman, who marries into the Bradley family and insists Wagadhanaay comes with them when they relocate to Wagga Wagga … because after all, it will make her life better.

‘… though she is trying to be understanding through their grief, she resents still being spoken to as the servant, the cleaner, the cook. She hates being the Black woman who just has to do what the White people tell her. She is grateful to be alive, but she hates that being alive reminds her that she is still powerless in her own life.’

There is much to love about this book. I love that Anita used traditional language, not only in the title, but throughout the entire book. I love that it is the perfect melding of fact and fiction. I love the characters and how each has a role to play in making this story the captivating sensation that it is. I love how much I learnt about Australian indigenous people and their great affinity with this incredible land. The land! I love how vivid the locations were presented and you felt the power of the Murrumbidgee River rising or the dust lifting as they danced around the fire.

‘His heart pains at the land being ruined by those who are new to it. They are not taking care of it, they treat it with contempt, as if it is only there for their benefit.’

This book … it will make you angry, it will make you sad but overall you will be a better person for having read it. Such a wonderful book for not only all Australians but anyone interested in Indigenous cultures and their rich yet often tragic tale. A tale that will stay with me for some time to come.

‘Their land has been stolen.’ Louisa’s stops short of yelling. She calms herself and continues. ‘It’s Wiradyuri land.’ She points out the window. ‘We don’t really own this; it is not yours, or mine. And those laws are British laws and should be illegal if they are not protecting Aboriginal people, who should be British citizens.’






This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. The quoted material may have changed in the final release.

Bila Yarradhanggalangdhuray (River of Dreams) is a book that should be read by all Australians.
It tells the story of the great Gundagai flood in 1852 and the heroism of the aboriginal men who risked their lives to save some of the white property owners who would have perished otherwise.

Even though it is fiction it is based on true events during that era. Wagadhaany is an aboriginal girl who works for property owners the Bradleys. Even though the local people tried to tell the white men not to build in that area as it is prone to flooding, of course they do not listen. When the flood happens Wagadhaany is saved by the two remaining Bradley brothers, but in turn they are saved by her father, despite many people perishing at this terrible time in Gundagai. They decide to move to Wagga Wagga and Wagadhaany is forced to leave her family and travel with them.

She forms a friendship with James Bradley's wife Louisa who is desperate for female companionship as there are no other women about. Wagadhanny is made to feel like a friend by Louisa but Mr Bradley still treats her like a servant. She misses her family immensely but there is a stockman who she becomes very close to.

This book was quite educational and disturbing at the same time in parts to see how the aboriginal people were treated, with the white man taking over their lands and treating them like savages at times. The conditions were awful for them and they were not paid, just given scraps and leftovers to eat.

It was a compelling story and I enjoyed it, but struggled with the aboriginal words throughout until I realised there was a glossary at the end of the book. If I had read a paperback version it would have been easy to flip back and forth, but on a kindle it wouldn't have been as easy.

Thank you to Simon & Schuster Australia for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest opinion.

This novel was so powerful I found it hard to put down. So much loss, so much hope and love. A fantastic and enthralling story of courage and belonging with the river playing a key role in the text. Must read.

What a beautiful and heartfelt story full of history, truths and authenticity. Anita’a writing is exquisite as she carries us through the multiple stories of the novel. Each voice is distinct and each story important to tell. I love the Wiradyuri language weaved through and at no point was I confused or unable to attain the meaning of the word through the context. Anita has done an amazing job of championing Wiradyuri language and I hope to see more books that do this.
It was an absolute pleasure to read and an important story to add to our national narrative.

When we first meet Wagadhaany (pronounced wogga-dine), she is a young girl who is accompanying her father as he talks to the recently arrived white men who want to build a house near the river in the new town of Gundagai. Her father is trying to warn them that this is not the place to build because the river will flood but they do not want to listen to the indigenous people.




Fast forward several years and Wagadhaany and her father are both working for (or enslaved by) the white men, the Bradley family. She is working in the house, where they call her Wilma, and her father is a stockman. When tragedy strikes the town, many people are drowned when the river floods. Wagadhaany survives, thanks to her heroic father, and she hopes that with the death of Mr and Mrs Bradley and two of their sons, she will be allowed to return to live with her family, which is all she wants.





Unfortunately, the two remaining sons of the family have other ideas. After James Bradley marries a young Quaker widow, Louise, the young couple and his brother, David, decide to make a new start in another river town, Wagga Wagga. Whilst Louise likes to think that she is becoming Wagadhaany's friend, she still insists that she can't do without the young Wiradjuri woman and so she is torn even further away from her family and her land.





This separation from all that she knows really affects Wagadhaany, and it is only when she meets the talented young stockman, Yindy, that she feels happiness, gradually being accepted into his family group. And yet, in this as in every regard of her life, she is at the whim of the Bradleys, having to ask for permission to be able to marry. Even then her own family and her own lands call her back. And the mighty river has yet more in store for her and her family.







I had previously read one of Anita Heiss' previous novels, Barbed Wire and Cherry Blossoms, and thoroughly enjoyed it, but with this book she has gone to the next level. Not only is the title in the Wiradyuri language (it translates to River of Dreams), the text is full of the indigenous language of the nation that the author is a proud member of. That, in itself, is an interesting story as the language had practically died out until being reconstructed over the last 20 years or so and is now taught in the schools in the traditional lands. Heiss uses the language throughout, but it is easy to understand in context, and there is also an index in the book if it is required.




For all that this is a story from Wagadhaany's perspective, as the world around her rapidly changes due to colonisation, many of the personal themes that are explored are universal. The importance of family, culture, loss and identity are both personal and universal.







This book is based on the true story of the flooding of Gundagai in 1852. There is now a memorial in the town to the heroism of the Wiradyuri men who saved many people during these terrible events. I think we are heading up that way in the next few months, so I hope to visit the memorial on my way past. Part of that trip will also take us to Cowra, close to where Barbed Wire and Cherry Blossoms is set.




I deliberately started reading this book whilst I was at Uluru a few weeks ago but, in the end, I didn't finish it until we were on the way home. This was for a couple of reasons. Firstly, we were busy and needed several afternoon naps after our activities which impeded on reading time. The other reason was because I felt a bit uncomfortable being in the red centre of Australia and reading about the flooding in a completely different area of the country. I think at least part of the reason is because I realised that to think that I am reading an indigenous story at a place like Uluru is all well and good, but the reality is that it is like saying I am visiting Madrid so I am going to read a book set in Paris which doesn't necessarily make sense as a deliberate decision. There are completely different traditions, languages and cultures from the Ananju people who live in the region around Uluru and the Wiradyuri people who feature in this book. I am, however, glad that my trip prompted me to pick this book up earlier than I otherwise might have done.





In closing, I feel it is only right to acknowledge the Wadawurrung people whose land I live on.





I enjoyed this book and I hope that others will do to. Over the next couple of weeks I have some passages bookmarked to share which hopefully entice others to read it.





Rating 4.5/5

Thanks to Netgalley for a copy of this book for an honest review.

What a beautifully written piece of literature. The use of Wirudyuri language was seamless and evoked a response I didn't expect. The descriptions of both the landscape and the family relationships was so well written it was easy to feel I was sitting by a river, listening to the water rushing by. My heart broke with the evident discrimination the Indigenous people of this land have faced for generations. A must read!

‘Not a good place to live, Boss, too flat!’

In 1838, White settlers are moving into the Wiradyuri country around Gundagai. Wagadhaany’s father, Yarri, advises one of those settlers, Mr Bradley, not to build on the Marrambidya floodplain. It may not have flooded recently, but it will flood. His advice is ignored.

In June 1852, Wagadhaany is working for the Bradley family, in the house being built in 1838. Heavy rainfall followed by devasting floods result in lives being lost. Yarri saves Wagadhaany and some of the Bradleys. When the Bradleys move from Gundagai to Wagga Wagga, Wagadhaany must move with them. Away from her miyagan, away from all that is familiar.

‘She hates being the Black woman who just has to do what the White people tell her. She is grateful to be alive, but she hates that being alive reminds her that she is still powerless in her own life.’

Wagadhaany dreams of a better life, of returning to her family and country. Her mistress, Louisa Bradley, wants to help the local Black children but how can Wagadhaany explain, from her position of powerlessness, the cultural differences? Will Wagadhaany find a life of her own?

Most novels about the 19th century European settlement of Australia are written from the settlers’ perspective, with occasional reference to the Indigenous people. This is the first novel I have read from an Indigenous perspective, with Wiradyuri language and customs gently requiring me to look at history from a different viewpoint. Wagadhaany and her family came alive for me, as did their relationship with country.

This is a beautifully written novel which took me into a world I thought I knew from a new perspective. I liked the way Anita Heiss’s use of Wiradyuri language made me stop to work out meaning from context (there is a glossary included at the end of the book). And while I was working out meaning, I reflected on the impact of European settlement on traditional life. We cannot change the past, but we can learn from it.

Highly recommended.

Note: My thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster Australia for providing me with a free electronic copy of this book for review purposes.

Jennifer Cameron-Smith

This is Australian Indigenous writing at its best, 1830's Australia was under colonial rule however the Indigenous people knew this country and the landscape for better than any white man.
The language is beautiful and the use of Indigenous language should happen more often. This book will become an Australian classic and the story will stay with you long after the word are read.

Oh I feel so much pressure with this review! I want to do the book justice, but I'm not a writer.
I loved it. I loved it for so many reasons - some of which I will try to explain.
It is the story of the Gundagai flood, but that is really the backdrop to so much more. It is really the story of very early White settlement in Australia, and the devastating (understatement) effects this had on the Indigenous people (the start of it anyway, we all know this continues to this day). It is the story of the Wiradyuri people and how their whole world was taken from them. It is told mostly through the eyes of Wagadhaany - a young girl who is "working for", ie. a slave for a white family in Gundagai and then Wagga Wagga.
Firstly, I LOVED that Dr Anita Heiss used traditional language, not only in the title, but throughout the whole book. Soooo good. (Most words you can understand through context, but there is also a glossary at the back).
I loved the way the story was told weaving facts amongst fiction. It is a fictional story but set amongst the historical facts of what occured at the time. It was so educational and I think one of the best books I have read that really demonstrates the relationship Aboriginal people had with the land and within their family groups.
I loved the way the land and settings were described. I could picture the families living at the river, I could see the elder ladies in my mind sitting around the camp, and I could see the dancing and the children. And then I could also feel the pain of the people seeing their land being misused and mistreated and the heartbreak this bought - as well as the physical effects this had when unable to hunt and gather on their own lands.
Lastly - I could honestly go on all day about this - I loved the characters. Wagadhaany, Yindy, Yarri, and all of the others, even Louisa and the Bradleys. Each had an important role in allowing the story to be told and to show all of the different aspects that were going on at that time.
The more I think about it, the more I realise just how clever it is, and the more I love it.
Argh- I just want everyone to read it! Please read it!

I knew as I read the prologue that this was going to be a good read. Set in Gundagai in 1838, an aboriginal man is trying to tell a white man not to build his house on the floodplain.
The man scoffs as he points to the dry landscape. “You don’t know what you’re talking about. We need rain. It certainly doesn’t look like it’s going to flood to me.”
“It hasn’t flooded for longest time,” says Yarri. “It will happen again. We know.”
(After the recent heavy rains and flooding in NSW this seemed appropriate!)

The story moves forward to 1852 and Yarri’s daughter, Wagadhanaay works for the Bradley family in the house being built in the prologue. The floods of that year are devastating.
The book is mainly about Wagadhanaay and her life, both her work and her miyagan (family).
There’s also some parts about Louisa, a Quaker woman who marries into the Bradley family and when they move to Wagga Wagga insists Wagadhanaay comes with them.
I really loved reading this book. The author weaves the indigenous language through the story and she does it so well that you can generally work out what the words mean by their context (there is a glossary also). There’s an attention to detail with regards to customs and the environment and the gentle love story is well told. I found it hard to put the book down, it was great to read a story from the indigenous point of view and while it made me angry and sad in many places there’s much to enjoy.
A beautiful book that will stay with me.