Book Review: My thoughts on Lachlan Strahan's "Justice in Kelly Country" [Sharon Hollingsworth]

Little JoJo checking out Justice in Kelly Country.
Our verdict is two thumbs/paws up!

                                             

 Ok, I have finally gotten a copy of "Justice in Kelly Country: The story of the cop who hunted Australia's most notorious bushrangers" by Lachlan Strahan. The cop being Constable Anthony Strahan, the great-great-grandfather of the author.

 First off, I have to say that I really enjoyed it. But, those who know me, know that I am going to point out a few niggling things. I am still a bit baffled why the kindle price (today at $31.34 US) is nearly neck and neck with the print copy price (today at $32.99 US). I got a bargain at $30.99 it seems! 

The intro with the alleged oral history of Strahan and the Kellys meeting up really sort of threw me (never mind that it was said Ellen was imprisoned in Pentridge!!) but it was along the lines of how in "Ned Kelly: a Short Life" Ian Jones had written the SBC event as Ned thinking he was seeing Flood and Strahan rather than it being Lonigan and McIntyre. Then we had a lengthy Old Testament type section of so-and-so beget so-and-so who beget so-and-so. I can't tell you how happy I was to get to page 17 when Anthony Strahan finally got on the ship to Australia.

 The book's strength is the telling of the story of Constable Strahan's life and career and everything he went through along with some annoyingly persistent adversaries he had to deal with.  I came away from the story with a new appreciation of Constable Strahan. He actually seems like a linchpin in the Kelly saga, though, sadly, he was not able to be at the siege to see it through to the end.

Strahan spent a lot of time in the saddle covering vast distances and was very diligent in his police work, patiently waiting on his quarry and quickly springing into action when required. He was well suited to the job. It was interesting to read about his exploits as well as reading about other aspects of his life.  For instance, the dilapidated housing he and his wife and family had to endure at various police stations (some quite isolated) he was posted at was quite eye-opening. It was all so well written that you felt like you were there slogging in the mud and shivering in the cold, feeling the rising damp and fearing to start a fire in the fireplace as it might burn the whole shanty down due to the state of the chimney. Add in the constant fear of wildfires in some places, flooding in others, (both in some!) and let's not forget the snakes and other wildlife! (They needed cats - like Little JoJo - and lots of them!) 

  I do think that the section on the Woolagee Outrage was rather a bit over-long (p 93-149). It felt like a disruption of the flow, it was almost like a whole other book on its own...once that episode was done it started rolling along nicely again. It was fun to "meet" some of the Kelly saga players early on along the way, especially the police, as it showed how they were out of the context of the Kellys. 

 A few things to mention, when there was talk of the aboriginals or the Chinese or women or whatever it was compared/contrasted to today's norms and delicacies. Back then, things were different (for better or worse), but it was what it was and it is what it is. 

 I did find a (very) few errors. It had Kennedy and Scanlan as both being married men and had Lonigan as unmarried, when it was Scanlan who was the unmarried one.  Also, it was made mention that the Jerilderie Letter was actually dictated to Joe by Ned IN Jerilderie, when it was already previously written and taken there to have newspaper editor Samuel Gill publish it. 

The author mentions his father, Frank Strahan, and his many writings on Ned and how he was a staunch Kelly sympathiser and of interest was his opinions of his ancestor, Constable Anthony Strahan, which was filtered through the sympathiser lens. I was aware of Frank Strahan and had read some of his articles and writings many years ago. It was very interesting to have the author show that some of his father's beliefs about the Kellys and his own family history were not quite correct.  I enjoyed the little touches where the author weighs in as a "rellie." He is not overbearing or insufferable. He strikes a good balance.  The Lord kept impressing upon me the term "diplomatic."  Then, at the very back of the book I see that he literally is a Diplomat!

Also, the author makes mention of a certificate of appreciation which Anthony Strahan was given and that it was reproduced on the inside back cover of the book. But, it was not, at least in the paperback copy I have.

Oh, and as Columbo would say - one more thing - I nearly forgot to mention that I have mixed feelings about Constable Anthony Strahan causing a near hazmat situation during a fancy dress ball. Part of me says "good-on-ya" and the other part says "how could you?" Trust me, you need to read it to even believe it!