The Potato Factory: The Australian Trilogy, Book 1

British, Australia and especially Tasmania penal history. A great read - Historical fiction? Why and how New South Wales and Dieman's Island were populated by the British in the early 1840's. The writer shows the trials and circumstances of three different but connected people all who live within the lower ranks of London population. A GREAT story if you are interested in history.

I seldom pick up a book that is such a page turner that my friends notice my antisocial behavior when I sit in a corner with my kindle. This is one of those books. It was very difficult to put it down.I am amazed that Courtenay is not a more widely read author in the states. His books are well crafted, his characters engaging, and the stories flow along briskly.This is my second Courtenay book. I had previously read "Whitethorn" , which was set in South Africa, and was similarly impressed with it."The Potato Factory" is laced with real historical figures like Ikey Solomon, a notorious criminal in his time, who is thought to have been the model for Fagin in Oliver Twist. Ikey and several of his family members and "business associates" end up transported to Hobart Tasmania where much of this story unfolds.Most of the first half of the book takes place in London before the main characters are transported to the penal colony in Tasmania for various offenses including fencing, brothel keeping, and counterfeiting,I first learned of Ikey in Robert Hughes' excellent history of Australian transportation "The Fatal Shore" and many of the events and characters in Courtenay's novel are consistent with what is regarded as historical fact. Ikey was in the papers a lot in his day.My partner and I just finished spending a year sailing around Australia including several weeks in Tasmania where we were able to see and even anchor in many of the locations that play a part in this fascinating novel. This experience of actually being in the locations in this book, no doubt, enhanced my appreciation of the setting of this novel but the fact that Courtenay does an excellent job of describing the Tasmanian wilderness should bring the story alive for those who have not had the good fortune to visit the forlorn destination of so many of England's criminal class during the 19th century."The Potato Factory" is the first book of a trilogy that includes "Tomo and Hawk" and "Solomon's Song".One really nice feature of reading books like this on my kindle is that the built-n dictionary lets me instantly look up the definitions of many of the 19th century English words that the street smart characters in this novel use.I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys historical novels. Courtenay's novel is every bit as good a read as the historical novels of Gore Vidal, whose work I really like.

What a story!! Incredible research and wonderful development of the characters.I started listening to the audible version on a drive down to our game farm. It was a 6-hour drive and I was left hanging. I could not wait for the return journey, so downloaded the Kindle version. This meant I had to listen to the parts I had already read on the way back. I can assure you this was no hardship. Bryce Courtenay is a true wordsmith. His imagery and the pictures he paints with words - and I am thinking particularly of his description of Ikey Solomon - are just wonderful!I would strongly recommend this book. I could not put it down!

This is the second time I have read The Potato Factory. It is an even better read than the the first time. To start with its a great story and carries the reader through countless sub stories with evocative plots and wonderful characters. Despite a heavy reading schedule the reader is finally left with a very strong desire to read the next book in the series. During the second reading i was able to take in the amazing descriptive writing which mark a Courtenay novel and to loose myself in the timewarp he creates in both London and Tasmania as this great story unravellels and the characters mature and change with time.

I was tempted to say that I hated it. I loved both "The Power if One" and "Tandia." This however was far from the engrossing well built narrative of those two books. The problem was simple. Much like the two aforementioned books this one had intricate, well developed characters and plots. The main difference between them was with this one I just didn't care. Even granting that Peekay had a bit of what I call "Batman Complex" (where someone is too well suited, clever, or is precocious beyond believability.) I still very much enjoyed his story and felt tied to his fate. I don't care about Mary or Ikey or other Mary or Bob Marley or anyone or anything going on in "The Potato Factory" I'm sure there are people who will and do like this book. I could not however, recommend this to anyone.

Courtenay is a great storyteller, but he is too long-winded. I enjoyed The Power of One (also very detailed.) I also enjoyed reading The Persimmon Trees, because I grew up in that part of Java. However, I can do without the social commentaries sprinkled throughout the book. Sometimes less is more.

i have and read the book on Kindle but I bought the hard copy for a friend who concurred with me that Potato Factory isa great read. I have been interested for many years in early Victorian England and this book certainly depicts the society at that time. It describesthe class differences and the struggles of the less fortunate a lot more graphic that Charles Dickens did.Courtnay's character development ofIky Solomon, Mary and Hannah is incredible. The rader will despise the characters and then sympathize with their situation. Love and hate is a strong theme in this book.

This is the first volume of a trilogy. Whether you continue with the rest, read this. If you enjoy historical fiction about people and places with which you may be unfamiliar, do yourself a favor and read this book. It's great in Audible, too!

Value for money ,to say the least ,but do not think this book is in 3 parts but 2 books in one .The first set in London ,the second in Van Diemens Land .Have only read 2 chapters yet of this 832 page book .Astonishing skill of the writer B.Courtenay,depicting the life in. London long before my father was born.His ancestors may have been some of the famine -fatigued Irish in London ,with emaciated faces described in 'The Potato Factory 'Bought this book after reading Mc Gann's book 'Flesh And Blood '. Sad to read on Wikipedia that B Courtenay died of gastric cancer .He probably worked too hard .This book is so well written .Unsuitable for children

I downloaded this having quite enjoyed The Power of One but what a mistake. A rambling and, to me, nonsensical book with some strange statements such as describing Australia as 'The most egalitarian nation on earth ... who would never again tolerate a despotic regime or accept that any man's station is above any other.' Perhaps he should have checked how the indigenous Aborigines have been treated over the years?

I was recommended to read this book after enjoying "Jessica" by Bryce Courtney so much... But I have to say I did not enjoy this one as much. The storyline and characters were really full, deep and rounded. I have to say I definitely learnt a lot about the times and the places and the way of life during the progress of the book. Unfortunately I sometimes find his description too in depth and others not in depth enough. There is a tendency to get bogged down in too much detail in parts of the book which made it difficult to read and almost Dickensian, but at other times he just skims over great blocks of time and holds back in giving much idea of what has gone on. The next book in this series is Tommo and Hawk but I won't be reading it now maybe in the future but I'm in no rush. Well worth a read if you want a broad description of the times in London and convicts lives in Australia.

I love this writer. I have read quite a few of his books.The potato factory is a trilogy.I read them about 10 years ago and now reading again.

I love all of Bryce Courtenays books, so apologies if my review if biased! The Potato Factory is another excellent read, the first in a trilogy, which I read straight after each other. Its a fantastic story which spans generations across the trilogy. Some of the writing is quite graphic and you can almost taste some of the scenes (which isn't always good). I would urge everyone to read Bryce Courtenay and The Potato Factory is as good a place to start as any. All I can say is I'll be amazed if you don't want to read everything he's ever written!