Part of my trip research includes reading non-fiction and fiction set in the places I’m going to see. Beyond the guide books, memoirs and novels give insights into what it’s like to live there, to be a part of the environment and to uncover the history of places. Connecting to a place before traveling there makes for a richer experience while I am there. Actually seeing places that I’ve read about gives me a thrill. I’ve taken a few literary tours based on books and have searched out places mentioned in books many times.
 I first went to Australia in 2009 and have been back several times. Before each trip, I’ve tried to read at least one book set in the region where I was traveling.
These are most of my Australia book collection, and I have quite a few more on audio.
 
What follows is a small, perhaps quirky, list of books that I have enjoyed and also used for sightseeing adventures. Let us know what books you’ve enjoyed that led you to check out places on your travels.

  1. Peter Carey: The True History of the Kelly Gang (2000)

What Robin Hood is to English history and Billy the Kid is to the American West history, Ned Kelly is the outlaw hero for Australians. He lived from 1854 to 1880 in and around Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. After reading about his short but dramatic life, I was interested to see some of the places mentioned in the book. We went to the to the Old Melbourne City Gaol, where he was brought after a spectacular shootout in Glenrowan, Victoria. At the jail, we toured the cells, saw where he was hanged, and looked at his death mask. The spirit of Ned Kelly lives on and references are seen in many parts of Australia. In the town of Glenrowan you can visit the Ned Kelly Homestead and Museum.
A Little About Ned Kelly:
He was a legend in his own time and still a cultural icon in Australia.  Ned Kelly was born in Victoria, Australia, 3rd son of 8 children to an Irishman who had been transported to Van Dieman’s Land (then Tasmania, Australia) in the 1840’s as punishment for a crime committed in England. After serving his prison sentence, Ned’s father was able to buy land near Melbourne, Victoria but died when Ned was 12, making him responsible for his large family. Ned fought for the Irish immigrants to be treated equally to the British residents, and ran afoul of the law. He, his brother and others formed the “Kelly Gang” and went on a crime spree, while trying to protect his family and their livelihood.
Peter Carey (b. 1943-) is one of few authors to win the Booker Prize twice and is well known for Oscar and Lucinda, Theft (An Artist’s Story) and others. He was born near Melbourne, Victoria, AU and now lives in New York.

  1. Bryce Courtenay: The Australian Trilogy:  The Potato Factory (1995),  Tommo & Hawk(1997), and Solomon’s Song (1999)

These novels tell a sweeping tale that starts in England, moves to Tasmania and ends in Sydney during the convict era of the 1800’s, into the 20th century and Australia’s role in WW I.
The characters are fascinating, as is the historical fiction aspect of gambling dens and brothels in England, transport on convict ships to the penal colony in Tasmania, the coming out of prison and making it into “society” in the growing Australia colony. Characters intertwine and several generations are depicted in the changing place that was early Australia. A lot of the books take place in Hobart, the capital city of Tasmania, and we saw several of the convict-era buildings there, such as the Cascades Female Factory Prison. Just outside of Hobart is the well-known Port Arthur Historical Site, the most famous of the British prisons. I listened to these books on audio, and loved the stories. Listening to these books on audio with British and Australian narrators also give a great sense of place and character.
Bryce Courtenay (1933-2012) born in South Africa, emigrated to Australia in 1958. Wrote many books set in both South Africa and Australia. First became famous for The Power of One, a book about growing up in South Africa during the Apartheid era. His Facebook page is maintained by family members: you can check it out here.

  1. Jill Ker Conway: The Road From Coorain (1990)

     This book is a memoir about growing up on an outback sheep station in the 1930’s and 40’s. Dr. Conway describes her isolation and hard work on the ranch as a young girl, and the culture shock she experienced when the family had to move to Sydney and she attended a real school. It gives a great insight into the vastness of Australia and life in the 20th century Outback. While I’ve yet to experience and outback sheep station, I have seen the University of Sydney (Camperdown campus) and imagined going to school there.
Jill Ker Conway (b. 1934-) After leaving Australia with a college degree she traveled to Europe, settled in the US and graduated from Harvard with a PhD. in 1969. After a stint as a professor in Toronto, she was tapped to be the first woman president of Smith College in 1975, a post she held for ten years. She is considered a national leader in improving the lives of women around the world through education and is outspoken on the need for college affordability,especially for women who need financial assistance.

  1. Tim Winton: Breath:  (2009)

This book takes place in southwest Australia, and is on its surface a surfing-coming-of-age story. Below the surface emerge larger themes of friendship, drive and determination and finding one’s place in the world. I liked it because the characters are of their place and time vividly rendered. Their intense and evolving relationship to each other and the world of the waves keeps one reading. Great for Western Australia atmosphere, along with his other books set in Perth and elsewhere along the western coast. This is one of the books I’ve read in preparation for a trip to Perth later this year. Will definitely be looking up the surfing beaches.
 
Tim Winton (b. 1960-). A native of Western Australia and a surfer, he knows his subjects well. An author of short stories, children’s literature as well as non-fiction and literary novels, he channels his deep feelings about his environment into his work.

5. Kerry Greenwood: The Phryne Fisher Mystery Series (20 books in the series 2005-2013).

Set in 1920s Melbourne, Australia, these historical detective novels feature Miss Phryne (pronounced fry-nee) Fisher: smart, beautiful, daring, fun. Phryne has a nose for trouble and a way with solving crimes like no other heroine. There is also a popular television series: Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries which show on cable TV and also on Netflix. The television shows capture all the detail of the books and Essie Davis as Phryne Fisher is perfect.
There is lots of scope for Melbourne area sightseeing here: The Hotel Windsor, St. Kilda, Phryne’s home on the sea south of Melbourne; Wardlow, the Phryne’s house in the television series.
Kerry Greenwood (b. 1954- ). Born in Footscray, near Melbourne, Australia, Ms. Greenwood has received many awards for her writing which include mysteries, science fiction and children’s books. Before she was a writer she was a criminal defense lawyer and a solicitor for Legal Aid.