The Bright Side of my Condition
2016 Longlist

The Bright Side of my Condition

artwork-image

ABOUT
THE BOOK

“When the Captain find us stowaways and give us the choice between join the island or join the crew, all of us to a man cry island! island! So he put us ashore with a few provisions and a trypot and sail away.”

After escaping from the Norfolk Island penal colony on a sealing ship, Bloodworth and his three fellow convicts are left on a remote southern island by a captain who promises to pick them up in a year’s time.

It will be many years before they see another ship. During that time four men, with nothing in common but a desire to escape and a need to survive, live together in cramped and freezing isolation. Slangam believes hard work will see them through, Toper puts his faith in the Divine, Gargantua leans on his learning and Bloodworth watches – both his fellow felons and the inhospitable environment.

Based on the true story of four convicts who spent more than nine years on the Snares Islands in the early nineteenth century, Charlotte Randall’s latest novel is a powerful work of fiction.

ABOUT
THE AUTHOR Charlotte
Randall

Charlotte Randall’s first novel, Dead Sea Fruit, won the South East Asian/South Pacific section of the Commonwealth Writers’ Prize for best first book and the Reed Fiction Award in 1995. Her second novel, The Curative, was joint-runner-up for the Deutz Medal for Fiction at the 2001 Montana New Zealand Book Awards. What Happen Then, Mr Bones? was a finalist for the same award in 2005. Her latest novel, The Bright Side of my Condition, was a finalist for the 2014 New Zealand Post Book Awards Prize for Fiction.

Randall was born and raised in Dunedin, New Zealand, and now lives on Banks Peninsula near Christchurch.

Photo Credit: Charlotte Randall

Charlotte Randall’s first novel, Dead Sea Fruit, won the South East Asian/South Pacific section of the Commonwealth Writers’ Prize for best first book and the Reed Fiction Award in 1995. Her second novel, The Curative, was joint-runner-up for the Deutz Medal for Fiction at the 2001 Montana New Zealand Book Awards. What Happen Then, Mr Bones? was a finalist for the same award in 2005. Her latest novel, The Bright Side of my Condition, was a finalist for the 2014 New Zealand Post Book Awards Prize for Fiction.

Randall was born and raised in Dunedin, New Zealand, and now lives on Banks Peninsula near Christchurch.

Photo Credit: Charlotte Randall

We're sorry, but we couldn't find any translators matching your search. Please try using different keywords or check back later as we regularly update our collection.

NOMINATING LIBRARY COMMENTS

Based on a true story, this novel about four convicts who escape from a Norfolk Island prison in the early 19th century is a riveting, powerful and intelligent read. It’s been in the top 5 of our most issued fiction, showing that our readers are fascinated as well.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Date published
29/01/2014
Publisher
Penguin

RELATED FEATURES

Audio June 11 2024

All About Books: Katy Conneely, Dublin City FM on the 2024 Dublin Literary Award Ceremony

In her 'All About Books' podcast Katy Conneely attends the Winning Ceremony of the 2024 Dublin Literary Award on 23rd May 2024 and provides some highlights of the ceremony
Video June 5 2024

2024 Dublin Literary Award Winners Mircea Cărtărescu and Sean Cotter In Conversation

Mircea Cărtărescu and Sean Cotter, winners of the 2024 Dublin Literary Award take an in-depth look at the winning title, Solenoid with Alex Clarke as part of International Literature Festival Dublin.
Video May 31 2024

Dublin Literary Award 2024 Winner Announcements Highlights

Romanian author Mircea Cărtărescu and translator Sean Cotter have been announced as winners of the 2024 Dublin Literary Award on Thursday 23rd of May, for the novel Solenoid.
Video May 8 2024

Alexis Wright – Praiseworthy Q&A

Q&A with Alexis Wright, one of the six shortlisted authors for the 2024 Dublin Literary Award in which she discusses her passion for libraries and explores the influences behind her novel Praiseworthy

STAY CONNECTED

Stay in touch and sign up to our newsletter to receive all the latest news and updates on the Dublin Literary Award.