As much as I love travel and world history, I have to admit that Australia has never been one of those places that has interested me all that much (contrary to my husband, who dreams of someday visiting there), but I do love a good seafaring tale, so after reading about English Passengers on BookCrossing, I managed to get a copy in trade, and there it’s sat on my shelf for the past couple of months. It was one of the books I decided to keep out of storage in the move, and boy, am I glad I did. It also served as my third choice for the winter reading challenge.

Essentially, there are three main plotlines: a smuggling vessel and her crew of Manxmen, a trio of explorers led by a pedantic vicar in search of the Garden of Eden, and the experience of the Tasmanian aborigines after the colonization of the island by British settlers, as seen through the eyes of one of the natives. As these stories run alongside one another and ultimately converge, we are exposed to a veritable cornucopia of characters, many of whom tell at least part of the story. Some we hear from only once, while others are a constant presence. You would think that such an ensemble cast would be confusing, but in reality, each voice was so distinct, and each piece of the story they were telling was so compelling, that it was not.

If you’re looking for a swashbuckling tale of seafaring adventure, you’ll find it here. If you’re looking for a comedy of errors, you’ll find it here. If you’re looking for a tragic tale of colonial imperialism, you’ll find it here. And if you’re looking for an epic story with plenty of plot twists and a unique perspective, you’ll definitely find it in this book. An absolutely great piece of historical fiction.