BLACKSWANSONG

Some legends fade. Others refuse to die. Spanning from the early days of the Swan River settlement to a near-future Perth, BLACKSWANSONG is the sweeping tale of Western Australia’s most elusive and enigmatic bushranger. Told through the voices of outlaws and lovers, soldiers and rockstars, this novel unearths a long-buried past, one chapter at a time – each set to the rhythm of a classic Western Australian folk song. Blood-soaked feuds, modern-day secrets and the echoes of a legend long forgotten come together in a bold, Western-style reimagining – set against the backdrop of Australia’s wild frontier. For those who want to hear the legend as well as read it, original recordings bring the story to life in song. For fans of Peter Carey’s True History of the Kelly Gang and anyone drawn to stories that blur the lines between truth and legend, BLACKSWANSONG is a journey into a past that still haunts us today. PRAISE FOR THE BOOK ‘A rollicking good read and a subversive look at Australia’s past, BLACKSWANSONG is at once surreal, funny, tragic and romantic. With a deeply moving novel that both sweeps across time and place and is anchored in the tenderness of human experience, Burrows tells a powerful Western Australian story.’ Lyn Dickens ‘An exciting read. It’s freewheeling and raucous yet beautifully rendered and intricately crafted. I enjoyed this riveting, vivid novel so much.’ Mirandi Riwoe Michael Burrows Michael Burrows is an author, poet and screenwriter from Perth, named Sydney Morning Herald’s Best Young Australian Novelist for his debut novel Where The Line Breaks (also shortlisted for the Fogarty Literary Award). After ten years in London, Michael has recently moved back to Perth with his wife. He has written and recorded the BLACKSWANSONGS to accompany this book, which was shortlisted for the Australian Fiction Prize 2024. Michael Burrows is an author, poet and screenwriter from Perth, named Sydney Morning Herald’s Best Young Australian Novelist for his debut novel Where The Line Breaks (also shortlisted for the Fogarty Literary Award). After ten years in London, Michael has recently moved back to Perth with his wife. He has written and recorded the BLACKSWANSONGS to accompany this book, which was shortlisted for the Australian Fiction Prize 2024.