Catharsis

Author: McCulloch
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-02-01
Features: Hardcover edition of Gone with the Wind from Australia. Printed over eight million copies, listed by Time magazine as one of the top ten modern classics alongside The Godfather, Love Story, and The Gift of. This book made me believe in love. This is an Australian family saga novel, with the love story between the female protagonist Meggie and the priest Ralph as the main thread, depicting the story of the Cleary family across three generations, spanning over half a century. The youthful and energetic priest yearned for the power of the Roman Catholic Church, but he fell in love with Meggie, the daughter of the rancher Cleary, a stunningly beautiful girl, placing him in a deep conflict between power and love, thus triggering a series of touching stories. Centered around the two protagonists, the lives and joys and sorrows of over ten members of the Cleary family unfold; especially, the time span of the novel happens to cross World War II, making the conflicts arising from the completely different life philosophies of two generations particularly striking. Meggie's family lives in New Zealand, where her father earns a living by shearing sheep for others. However, this year, her father loses his job, and as the family worries, they receive a letter from their aunt in Australia. It turns out that the aunt, now elderly, is preparing to let them inherit her estate. After some hardships, Meggie's family sets foot on the Australian continent and arrives at Drogheda. The moment Meggie appears, she catches the attention of Father Ralph, who shows great affection for the girl. Father Ralph is Irish and sent by the Catholic Church to serve as a priest in Drogheda. He is a tall and handsome man, elegant and kind, ambitious, and eager to rise to a higher position in the church. However, due to his lack of background, he remains an ordinary priest well into his thirties. Since Meggie's aunt is the wealthy widow of Drogheda, he has to frequently interact with her, though he secretly despises her.