Elizabeth Macarthur by Michelle Scott Tucker

Elizabeth Macarthur by Michelle Scott TuckerA groundbreaking portrait of an ordinary English gentlewoman who would go on to become one of Australia's most significant, if little known, historical figures. In 1788 a young gentlewoman raised in the vicarage of an English village married a handsome, haughty and penniless army officer. In any Austen novel that would be the end of the story, but for the real life woman who became an Australian farming entrepreneur, it was just the beginning. John

A groundbreaking portrait of an ordinary English gentlewoman who would go on to become one of Australia's most significant, if little known, historical figures.

In 1788 a young gentlewoman raised in the vicarage of an English village married a handsome, haughty and penniless army officer. In any Austen novel that would be the end of the story, but for the real-life woman who became an Australian farming entrepreneur, it was just the beginning.

John Macarthur took credit for establishing the Australian wool industry and would feature on the two-dollar note, but it was practical Elizabeth who managed their holdings-while dealing with the results of John's manias- duels, quarrels, court cases, a military coup, long absences overseas, grandiose construction projects and, finally, his descent into certified insanity.

Michelle Scott Tucker shines a light on an often-overlooked aspect of Australia's history in this fascinating story of a remarkable woman.