OK partly fictional biography of a Victorian lady who lived among the aborigines in Southern Australia from early 1900s to about 1950 or so. Not much is known so author makes up things, but it is very well done. A lost woman among a lost people. ( )

Julia Blackburn became fascinated by Daisy Bates quite by accident. In the beginning of her book Blackburn imagines Ms. Bates's feelings and memories but by the middle of the book there is an odd shift in perspective and suddenly Blackburn assumes the role of Bates, talking in the first person as if she IS Daisy Bates. It was a little unsettling until I settled into the narrative...and then she switches back.
Through Blackburn's words Daisy Bates became this larger than life figure; a woman trying to save the natives of Australia. At times it was difficult for me to understand her motives or her successes, but I learned to understand her passions. She truly cared for the people of the desert. ( )

Substance: A biography of a woman who chose to live among the Australian aborigines, styling herself their protector, with funding from the government. Although evidence indicates that she was an inveterate embellisher of her biography and life with her companions, whom she always claimed as friends, she seems sincere in her appreciation of their culture and love for them as persons. She did compile material for published articles and some books (some written by others), although not a trained researcher or anthropologist or linguist.
Style: Blackburn uses the unusual device of beginning and ending her book with a standard biographical narrative, based on Bates' journals and recollections of other people, but the center is written as if by Bates herself, and (if it truly captures her spirit) presents a moving portrait of a complex and interesting woman. ( )

-- Most books I read belong to library. DAISY BATES isn't an exception, & it isn't a pg. turner. After reading book jacket five or six times I realize this is a biography. Title sounds like biography, but I thought it was fiction due to loose writing style. A hundred yrs. ago at age 54 Daisy relocated to a tent in a desert. Daisy reveals her background to readers in the first person. Nobody in the desert knows her past. She talks about the flora, fauna, & heat. She talks about the Aborigines & visitors who arrive on trains. I still have almost half the book to read. It is to be enjoyed a little at a time like sherry. --

Started reading it. Since Daisy lied about everything this book is almost all conjecture. I just couldn't get into it. ( )