Description
As a British soldier who fought against Napoleon, William Buckley served capably and truly but a drunken escapade led to his transportation to a short-lived settlement in Australia, and once there to his daring escape from custody and thirty years of isolation among the First People of the region, who saved and sheltered him.
Known to his saviours as ‘Murrangurk’, Buckley learnt their language and forgot his own. He lived as they did and would later record invaluably his understanding of their customs and traditions.
When eventually Europeans returned and conflict between them and the First People flared, Buckley was at the heart of the tumult. He tried to mediate and courageously stopped three massacres, but soon found himself disregarded by the antagonists and dangerously compromised.
ISBN: 9781925801217
Softcover
Australian Scholarly Publishing
239 A'Beckett Street Melbourne, Victoria, 3000 
03 9326 9288 
office@historyvictoria.org.au 
Office & Library: Weekdays 9am-5pm
Ruth Rosh –
Beautifully written. A sensitive well researched insight into William Buckley and life at that time. Reads like a great suspense novel. Devoured it!
Beris Campbell –
We really enjoyed this book. Such a good read and really fascinating. We learned so much about, not only Buckley – amazing stuff – but also life for the first nations before Batman and Co took over so much well kept, valued, and well populated country SO rapidly. It should be compulsory reading for all Victorians.
Helen Willis –
An enthralling true story that brings to life the 32 years spent by William Buckley among the wathawurrung people. What a wonderful insight into the life and culture of our first people!
Strongly recommended
David –
This book is a must for Buckley tragics! Extraordinarily well researched and written in a way that’s factual but somehow very human. Gives a real insight to the life of William and what it must have been like to live with the Wathaurung for 32 years. Strongly recommended!