Damon Courtenay died on the morning of April Fool's Day. In this tribute to his son, Bryce Courtenay lays bare the suffering behind this young man's life. Damon's story is one of lifelong struggle, his love for Celeste, the compassion of family and a fight to the end for integrity.

Mary Abacus, tenacious, spirited and a woman of independent mind, has arrived in her new land under the most onerous of circumstances. Sometime mistress of the notorious London criminal Ikey Solomon, Mary has been transported to Van Dieman's land for running a bawdy house. She is soon joined on the convict settlement by Ikey and his wife Hannah, herself a strong minded woman, consumed by warring passions, a great love for her children and a loathing for her husband and his mistress.