The Captive Wife is set in the 1830's, and spans ten years (1832 -1843). It tells the story of Betty Guard, who at fourteen, marries a former convict turned whaler. He takes Betty as his wife and they head to a New Zealand whaling station. After several years, and two children, the family decides to return to Australia but along the way their ship is wrecked. After a battle with one of the Maori tribes, Betty and two of her children are kidnapped.

Betty decides to take school teacher, Adeline Malcolm, into her confidence and share the story of her kidnapping. She tells Adeline, "I’m not going to tell you the story the way it happened. I’m going to tell it the way I remember it.” The tale is told through various characters viewpoints as well as letters and journals.

This was a fascinating story and I had no idea when I started it that it was based on an actual event. I thought the author did a great job of researching the time and place. I wasn't riveted by the book in the beginning and it may be due to the awkward jumping between the narrations and viewpoints. I did enjoy that the characters are neither good, nor bad, and they earned my sympathy. I thought it was a great look at the at the social politics of early New Zealand, as well as the misogyny of the time. It was a gripping look at the early settlement between Australia and New Zealand and the culture of those times. ( )

I found The Captive Wife by Fiona Kidman to be a very interesting read. While the story zeros in on one incident in history, the kidnapping and eventual rescue of the wife and children of a ship’s captain by Maoris on the coast of New Zealand in 1834, the scope of the story covers early Australian society and it’s rigid rules. Based on real events, the story unfolds through the perspective of multiple characters, and at first, Betty Guard is welcomed back to Sydney as a heroine, but all too soon she is ostracised as the implications of her captivity are spread by vicious rumours.

This book clearly outlines how trapped women were in those days, with literally no options open to them, they were expected to do their duty, follow the rules of society and submit to whichever male relative had control over them. Strongly written and well researched, this book paints a vivid picture of early colonial life in Australia and New Zealand. The author fills her story with well drawn characters that are fully developed and each one tells their story in a distinctive voice. From Jacky Guard’s abrupt journal entries to the vivid and intense conversations between Betty Guard and her ex-teacher, Adie.

The Captive Wife was an irresistible blend of a heartbreak and resilience. The story is of a woman trapped by circumstances, yet in her own way she is able to resolve her situation and eventually find peace for herself and her family. Full of well researched historical details, this was a engrossing read. ( )

Livre étonnant, écrit à partir de faits réels. Bien que romancé, on suit la vit de Betty, mariée à un homme de 29 ans son aîné, et entraînés dans des aventures incroyables et violentes. Vengeances, guerres entre factions Maori, guerres et cannibalisme aussi vis à vis des blancs, rigidité victorienne de la "bonne société"... livre témoignage, qui permet de mieux comprendre un pan de l'histoire de la Nouvelle-Zélande, de la souffrance des Maori et de celle aussi des hommes et des femmes "convicts" condamnés par les tribunaux dans leur pays et envoyés vers ces nouvelles frontières. ( )

Ex-convict turned whaler Jacky Guard has taken fourteen-year-old Betty as his wife. They sail from Australia to his New Zealand whaling station where they have two children together. On a return trip from Sydney their barque is wrecked near Mount Taranaki and in an ensuing battle with local Maori Betty sustains a head injury before she and her children are taken captive.

Jacky tries to seek a ransom back in Australia, but instead England engages in its first armed conflict with New Zealand Maori after he is persuaded to return four months later with two naval ships.

When the rescued Betty arrives back in Sydney in 1834, she receives a heroine’s welcome - that is before questions start being asked about her survival.

An interesting read about historical New Zealand and inter-tribal Maori warfare as well as the Sydney based whalers, sailors, traders and ex-convicts. ( )

Un peu lourd. Intéressant cependant pour la confrontation entre les premiers colons et les civilisations locales (ici les Maoris), brutale... et brutale aussi entre les classes de la société anglaise qui exilait ses détenus loin de l'Angleterre et avec eux les militaires pour les garder, embryon de la société australienne en devenir. Dans un récit qui ne prend pas partie, personne n'a LE beau rôle, tous les personnages ont un côté obscur mais tous ont aussi une richesse. ( )