True History of the Kelly Gang (2000) by Peter Carey is a fictionalized account of the life of the infamous Australian bushranger, Ned Kelly, told through a series of 13 sections written in the form of historical manuscripts. The novel portrays Ned's transformation from an innocent boy to an outlaw, drawing on his early life, his struggles with the law, and his eventual rise to notoriety with the Kelly Gang. The narrative is filled with Irish slang and unpolished prose, reflecting Ned's lower-class, uneducated background. Carey blends historical facts with fictional elements, including an invented love affair with Mary Hearn, a character who does not appear in historical records. The novel captures the social and political tensions of the time, particularly the oppressive conditions faced by Australia's poor, and explores the complexities of loyalty, justice, and rebellion. It won multiple literary awards and remains a significant contribution to Australian literature.
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