Sailing Upside Down Under: An emigration epic

A boy, Andrew, sent from Scotland to Melbourne, Australia in 1854 with a family servant writes home. His collection of letters reveal a clear picture of early Melbourne and Geelong as well as the conflicts, challenges and sorrows of the adult cousins and semi-relatives he traveled over with. A story of jealousy, ambition, sickness and suicide all revealed in the letters and newspaper articles the boy referred to. The letters give a two year window into the world of these settlers, each hoping to build their own families and businesses but confronted with hardship, disease and struggle. The lives of two servant girls makes for a fascinating parallel as two societies cross and merge. The book begins with a prologue, the letters themselves from 1855 to 1858, then a biography section. No collection of letters by one youth exist during the Australian gold rush - it's a rare glimpse into the convoluted lives of these early Australians.