Voss

by Patrick White
Voss cover
Good Books rating 4.1
Historical Fiction
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Paperback • £10.99 Hardback • £12.99
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  • ID: 10463
  • Added: 2026-01-25
  • Updated: 2026-02-03
  • ISBN: 9781446435366
  • Publisher: Random House
  • Published: 2011-02-28
  • Formats: 2
  • Reviews: 3

Set against the rugged backdrop of nineteenth-century Australia, Voss tells the story of an explorer and a naïve young woman, Laura, who are bound by an overwhelming, obsessive love. Despite having met only a few times, their connection is profound and all-consuming. Voss embarks on a perilous journey to cross the continent, facing hardships, mutiny, and betrayal that test his endurance and leadership. As his physical strength wanes, his emotional attachment to Laura grows stronger./n/nLaura, waiting in Sydney, drifts through the months of separation as if in a dream, with Voss being her only reality. The novel explores themes of love, obsession, and the blurred line between reality and illusion, set in a harsh and unforgiving landscape.

Reviews
Goodreads · 2026-01-25
excellent 3.80

The novel is described as having astonishing vision and talent, with vivid and lush writing. The characterizations are emotionally resonant, making it a standout adventure and love story.

The reviewer is impressed by the novel's astonishing vision and talent, highlighting its vivid and lush writing. They appreciate the emotional resonance of the characterizations, which make the novel a standout adventure and love story. The reviewer also notes the depth and complexity of the narrative, which contributes to its overall impact and appeal.

Quick quotes

    This is a novel of astonishing vision and talent

    An adventure story and a love story, the writing is vivid and lush

    Its characterizations have an emotional depth

Reading Matters Blog · 2017-05-18
brilliant 4.50

The richly evocative language and clever structure deal with dual themes like good versus evil and intellect versus emotion. The novel's depth and complexity make it a standout piece of literature.

The reviewer is captivated by the novel's richly evocative language and clever structure, which effectively explore dual themes such as good versus evil and intellect versus emotion. They appreciate the depth and complexity of the narrative, highlighting how it stands out as a significant piece of literature. The reviewer also notes the emotional resonance of the characters and the vividness of the writing, which together create a compelling reading experience.

Quick quotes

    From its richly evocative language to its clever structure, it deals with so many dual themes — good versus evil, intellect versus emotion

    The characters and events are orchestrated with compelling skill

    The writing is vivid and lush, with characterizations that have an emotional depth

The Guardian · Robert McCrum · 2015-03-09
great 4.00

The novel is a love story set against the disappearance of an explorer in the outback, paving the way for a generation of Australian writers. The reviewer praises its historical and psychological depth.

Robert McCrum highlights how 'Voss' is a love story set against the backdrop of an explorer's disappearance in the Australian outback. He emphasizes the novel's historical and psychological depth, noting how it paved the way for a generation of Australian writers to shrug off colonial influences. McCrum appreciates the novel's compelling skill in orchestrating characters and events, making it a significant contribution to Australian literature.

Quick quotes

    A love story set against the disappearance of an explorer in the outback

    Voss paved the way for a generation of Australian writers to shrug off the colonial

    The characters and events of this historical, psychological and, yes, metaphysical drama are orchestrated with compelling skill

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