Fire, Friendship and Family: Read our Review of The Last of the Apple Blossom by Mary-Lou Stephens

The Last of the Apple Blossom is a sweeping, big-hearted Australian family saga for readers of Judy Nunn and Victoria Purman.

This novel begins intensely, with harrowing scenes from 7th February 1967, the day that became known as Black Tuesday. Walls of flame surrounded Hobart and the Huon Valley, reducing much of Tasmania to ash. The fire took everything – except two women’s fighting spirits.

Young school-teacher Catherine Turner rushes to the Huon Valley to find her family’s apple orchard destroyed, her childhood home in ruins, and her brother dead. Despite her father’s declaration that a woman will never run the orchard, Catherine resolves to rebuild the family business.

After five sons, Catherine’s friend and neighbour, Annie Pearson, is overjoyed by the birth of a much longed for daughter. As Annie and her husband Dave work to repair the damage to their orchard, Dave’s friend Mark pitches in, despite the fact that Annie wants him gone. Mark has moved his family to the valley to escape his life in Melbourne, but his wife has disappeared leaving chaos in her wake and their young son Charlie in Mark’s care.

Catherine becomes fond of Charlie, whose strange upbringing has left him shy and withdrawn. However, the growing friendship between Mark and Catherine not only scandalises the small community but threatens a secret Annie is desperate to keep hidden.

Through natural disasters, personal calamities and the devastating collapse of the apple industry, Catherine, Annie and those they love battle to save their livelihoods, their families and their secrets.

Mary-Lou Stephens grew up in Tasmania and remembers Black Tuesday. This experience adds authenticity to her vivid descriptions of children sheltering from the fire in their school, as well as the devastating impact that the bushfires wrought upon the environment, and people. Stephens’ prose brings the beautiful Huon Valley to life, as the community rallies to recover from the fire. Her insight into the apple industry is also fascinating, taking you to the heart of the Apple Isle of which Tasmania is famed.

Catherine and Annie are fascinating protagonists, their poise and determination are critical to rebuilding their families’ orchards, at a time when women’s roles were still largely relegated to caring for children and domestic duties. This novel, spanning from 1967 to the present day, deals with far more than bushfires and apple orchards – namely the secrets and burdens that the women become wound up in.

The Last of the Apple Blossom is a meticulously researched, vividly portrayed and gripping historical novel. It’s an impressive debut from Stephens, making her a name to watch in homegrown fiction.