This was a very interesting read, I thoroughly enjoyed meeting the characters from this story Ann Inett, Phillip Gidley King and Anna Josepha, it is a story of hardship, strength and courage as these people start life in a totally different place that they are used to add in relationships and family and this is a compelling read.

Ann Inett is sentenced to transportation to Botany Bay for theft, she must leave behind her two young children, and never knowing if she will see them again, she sets sail with the first fleet it took eight long months to reach Botany Bay, her life of course is going to change forever.

Gidley King sets sail with the first fleet the trip is long and has many problems but many months later they arrive in Port Jackson and the work begins in setting up a new settlement there is a lot to overcome, when Governor Arthur Phillip sends Gidley to Norfolk Island to start another settlement he takes male and female convicts he has his choice of females to be his housekeeper and he chooses Ann Inett and soon she is more than his housekeeper.

Gidley and Ann get on well and soon are the parents of a son, Norfolk soon after Ann becomes pregnant again Gidley is sent back to England with letters and requests to keep the settlements going, sadly Ann does not go with him and gives birth to their second son Sydney, it is eighteen months before Gidley returns and he returns with a wife, Anna Josepha.

It takes some time but the two woman open up to each other and a friendship slowly grows and over the years it becomes very strong, Gidley becomes Governor and the pressure is on everyone to keep the new settlements going there are many hardships and this book shows what they all went through, it really was a hard life.

This is one that I recommend to any lover of Australian history, these characters are part of Australia’s history, the characters are strong and real and I thoroughly enjoyed getting to know them, Ann Inett and Anna Josepha are both strong and caring woman who lived through tough time’s hardship in a male dominated world but both came out the other side, this is a wonderful story.

My thanks to Allen & Unwin and Netgalley for my copy to read and review.

A story of tangled love affairs, female friendship, twisted loyalties, betrayals, hardship, and the tragedies and triumphs of life in a new land.

Ann Inett-Robinson (1754–1827), was the youngest of four children of Samuel and Mary Inett.As a young woman, she was a dressmaker and had two illegitimate children: Thomas,in 1778, and Constance,in 1781.In 1785, the dwelling-house of Susannah Brookes in Grimley had been broken open and that several articles of her clothing were taken. Ann Inett, was soon apprehended for the crime and taken into custody.At the Worcester Assizes on 11 March, 1786, Ann was found guilty of stealing and initially sentenced to death, but then had her sentence commuted to 7 years transportation beyond the seas.Ann had to leave her two children behind.Ann eventually embarked on the Lady Penrhyn, a ship specifically designed to carry female convicts to Botany Bay, as part of the First Fleet, sailing on 13 May, 1787,and arriving in Australia on February 1788.Because her behaviour on the ship was deemed least exceptional,Ann was sent from Botany Bay to Norfolk Island,and subsequently became housekeeper to Lieutenant-Governor Philip Gidley King.Ann was described as an attractive woman, small framed, dark haired and with a neat and clean appearance.She was an industrious and accommodating woman, keeping King's home comfortable,and sleeping with him.As his mistress, Ann bore Gidley two sons:Norfolk(b.1789) and Sydney(b.1790),who later became distinguished Royal Navy officers.However, Gidley King returned to England, leaving Ann and their sons behind.Gidley King married Anna Josepha Coombe and had another family.

Ann wed English convict Richard John Robinson in November 1792.Together,they opened a hotel named The Yorkshire Grey.Ann and Richard became successful business and property owners.Ann returned to England in 1820 and lived there until her death.

Philip Gidley King was Governor of NSW from 1800-1806.He helped develop livestock farming, whaling,mining,built many schools,and launched the colony's first newspaper.But conflicts with the military wore down his spirit,and they were able to force his resignation.

VIVID COLONIAL STORY: ‘THE GOVERNOR, HIS WIFE AND HIS MISTRESS’ BY SUE WILLIAMS

The third work of Australian historical fiction by Sue Williams, The Governor, His Wife and His Mistress tells the story of the naval officer who became the third governor of the British colony of New South Wales, but also the lesser-known entwined stories of the two women who shared parts of his life.

Williams has done this twice before, with great effect. Elizabeth and Elizabeth focused on the wives of Governor Lachlan Macquarie and John Macarthur. That Bligh Girl introduced Anna Bligh, the daughter of the notorious William Bligh (of ‘Mutiny on the Bounty’ fame) who replaced Gidley King as Governor in 1808.

As with those earlier novels, this new book gives a fabulous insight into the earliest, troubled years of the colony, from the point of view of women. A point of view usually overlooked in official histories of the men who, let’s be honest, made most of the decisions in those times.

Actually, this novel gives a vivid picture of the establishment of two colonies, because Gidley King was sent to put down British roots on Norfolk Island before returning to New South Wales. The author’s research is lightly handled but readers are privy to the many difficulties at both Port Jackson (later Sydney) and the even more remote Norfolk, and the logistical, moral and emotional challenges faced by successive governors.

By most historical accounts, Gidley King was an able and a fair and even handed adminsitrator. It is in his personal affairs that the other side of the man’s character are illuminated.

In this, he was definitely a man of his time and milieu. Men of his rank and situation often thought nothing of taking a convict wife as mistress, especially on the long voyage to the colonies. By the time the transport ships arrived, many had a baby on the way.

This is what happened to Ann Inett, a seamstress who had fallen on hard times when her soldier lover was killed in the Revolutionary War in America, leaving her with two small children to raise alone. One desperate crime sees Ann wrenched from her children, transported to New South Wales on a First Fleet ship, part of the great experiment of setting up a settlement from nothing on the other side of the world. Gidley King invites her to be his housekeeper, attracted by her obliging nature and quiet demeanour and, as they say, ‘one thing leads to another…’ A very common tale, part of Australia’s foundation story.

Dare I say it, more relevant to many modern Australians than the ANZAC story?

Before long, Ann has two young children with him, they are sent to Norfolk Island to endure even harder conditions there, then he is ordered to return to England…what will become of her?

It’s no spoiler to relate the next bit. Gidley King does return to Sydney. He had promised Ann marriage on his return but instead he brings back a wife, who is already expecting a baby!

It is to the author’s credit that she manages to relate this part of the story in a way which made me want to keep reading, rather than throw the book across the room. She took me into Gidley King’s head and his world view. Not a pleasant place, I admit, but it allowed me to see the constraints (as he saw them) on his moral and personal choices. So very different to today’s views. As I often say, people are no different, essentially, but society’s beliefs and expectations certainly change over time.

And as mentioned above, he was among many, many soldiers, sailors and officers who did exactly the same thing back then. Not an excuse. Just background. Captain David Collins, for example, who became the colony’s Judge Advocate, took convict Nancy Yeates, as mistress. She features in this novel too.

The real heroine of this novel, I believe, is the woman Gidley King marries, Anna Josepha. Can you image marrying a man after a very brief courtship, then boarding a ship to sail across the world to a rudimentary outpost of society, arrive heavily pregnant, to be confronted by your new husband’s mistress and his two children with her?

It seems that this quiet, ‘plain’ little woman rose to the occasion magnificently, smoothing what must have been a fraught and humilating situation for all concerned. She built a bridge between herself and Ann, between her husband, his existing children and those she went on to have with him. She took responsibility for the education of his children with Ann (to Ann’s credit also, as this meant losing her children yet again for a time).

And in doing all this, Anna Josepha was Gidley King’s right hand in his role as administrator and as Governor, acting as informal secretary, First Lady, diplomat, helping to sooth fractious tempers and care for her husband when illness took its toll.

An old story, isn’t it? And depressingly common: the faithful, loyal wife or mistress, supporting, helping, building up their menfolk. And then being forgotten in the annals of history.

So it’s wonderful to see their stories being told, both in more recent non-fiction and through the lens of fiction as in this novel.

The Governor, His Wife and His Mistress is published by Allen & Unwin in Janurary 2025.
My thanks to the publishers and to NetGalley for an advanced reading copy to review.

I was immediately intrigued by the title of the book, "The Governor, His Wife and His Mistress" by Sue Williams, and I chose not to read the blurb beforehand, which led to a wonderful surprise when I began reading. To my delight, I discovered that the book explores a historical story that I had recently learned about during a memorable holiday to Norfolk Island with my father and sister just a year prior.

The story revolves around Philip Gidley King, who was a key figure in early Australian history. He sailed with the First Fleet to the new colony of New South Wales, where he played a pivotal role as Governor Arthur Phillips sent Gidley King on an expedition to Norfolk Island. In his complex personal life, he was involved with Ann Inett, a convict also on the first fleet and later became his mistress and mother of his first 2 children, while he later married Anna Josepha King in England before returning to Northfolk island, creating a rich tapestry of historical and personal dynamics.

During my visit to Norfolk Island, I had the opportunity to delve into some of its intriguing history. I learned about the original house where Gidley King lived, which provided a tangible connection to the past. The island's historical significance, coupled with its stunning scenery, made my experience both enriching and enjoyable. I was particularly captivated by the stories that shaped the foundation of the island, from its early exploration to the social intricacies of its inhabitants.

Therefore, I was thoroughly thrilled to discover that this book was centred around a place and a history I had only recently become acquainted with. Williams has crafted a well-written book that seamlessly weaves together historical facts with the intimate details of the lives of the characters involved. The result is a compelling story that not only informs but also engages the reader on both intellectual and emotional levels, providing a deeper understanding of the people and events that shaped Norfolk Island's past and the early days of Australia.

Oh my gosh this is yet another wonderful book by Sue Williams. I just can't get enough of her books, her writing and how she draws me in to each and every book she writes. This one I love (yet again) and I just couldn't put it down once I started reading. Such a wonderful historic novel that brings the times to life.

Philip Gidley King was on the First Fleet to the new colony where he found a mistress, made a family then set sail back to England. on his return to Sydney he brings his new English wife with him and what ensues will enthral you, break your heart and make you marvel and the strength of women. This book is a truly wonderful book and reads well, kept me there in the moment and made me want to keep reading.

A very well written and researched book that takes you on a journey of the past and into the lives of the different people of the times, how they dealt with what they were given and how their worlds turned. It is a marvellous book and I highly recommend it.

Thank you Net Galley and Allen & Unwin for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.

The First Fleet left Portsmouth, England on the 13th of May 1787, and it took eight months to reach the new penal colony in New South Wales and aboard the Sirius are Philip Gidley King an officer in the Royal Navy and Ann Inett a convict.

Ann's a seamstress and single mother when she’s arrested for a petty crime and she’s convicted without a fair trial. Second Lieutenant Gidley King is worried about the terrible conditions the female convicts are enduring and he ventures below decks.

Governor Arthur Phillips sends Gidley King on an expedition to Norfolk Island not long after they arrive in Port Jackson and to start another settlement. They have trouble finding a place to land, after days of circling the Island they finally make it ashore. Ann’s understands the predicament she’s in and female convicts need a proctor and when Gidley King asks her to be his housekeeper, she accepts. Norfolk Island is not what they expected, it takes a lot of hard work to clear the land, plant crops and keep the bugs at bay. Two years pass and Ann and Gidley have a son called Norfolk and another on the way when he’s sent back to England by Governor Phillip’s to explain what’s happening in Port Jackson and on Norfolk Island, food is scarce and being rationed.

Ann has another boy and she names him Sydney and eighteen months later Gidley returns and he’s not alone. Anna Josepha King is his new wife, she had no idea Gidley had a mistress and two illegitimate sons in New South Wales. Anna Josepha and Gidley are sent back to Norfolk Island and later they return to Sydney and when he’s appointed the Governor of New South Wales and here Anna Josepha opens an orphanage for girls and raises the couple’s children.

I received a copy of The Governor, His Wife and His Mistress from NetGalley and Allen & Unwin in exchange for an unbiased review. In her latest book Sue Williams uses real people as a bases and the First Fleets historic trip across the Pacific Ocean in her narrative, it was long and brutal journey, especially for convicts and many died during the voyage and she explores what it was like living in New South Wales and Norfolk Island in the early years of settlement.

Anna Josepha was a remarkable woman, she cared about Ann’s boy’s welfare and education and many in her position wouldn’t have and with kindness and grace. Ann Inett and her fellow female convicts and friends, were strong, courageous and went on to be influential and powerful women in the new country. However, as a mother I can’t imagine being separated from my son, Ann had four children, and hers was a sad and heartbreaking situation to be in and she wasn't the only one.

Five stars from me, this is the third book I have read by Sue Williams and I highly recommend The Governor, His Wife and His Mistress and Elizabeth & Elizabeth and That Bligh Girl for readers who enjoy well written historical fiction set in the new colony of New South Wales and Australia.