Overview

A key lies at the heart of this evocative memoir—unlocking long-buried memories of a childhood shaped by beauty, fear, and fierce emotional undercurrents in 1930s and 1940s Australia. Narrated by Natasha Ross, born to middle-class parents of European origins, this is a story shadowed by her complex and brilliant mother, Nina—whose first act of motherhood teeters on the edge of tragedy above a seaside cliff. Her father, Marcus, warm and sociable, is caught between loyalty to his wife and love for his daughter. In an effort to protect Natasha, he sends her to a conservative boarding school in the Blue Mountains. There, under the authority of two stern spinsters—one English, one French—Natasha is thrust into a world of routine, silence, and subtle cruelties. While the Depression and World War II stir beyond the school gates, Natasha faces her own battles: navigating loneliness, forging fleeting friendships, and confronting the pressures of conformity. In time, she runs—not just from the school, but toward her own developing sense of self. Unflinching and lyrical, A Secret Grief is a meditation on memory, survival, and the forces that shape—and sometimes fracture—our earliest bonds.

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9781923236332

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Reviews

Natalie Scott was born to write. Al Alvarez

Author Information

Born and educated in Sydney, Natalie Scott was a freelance writer before her acclaimed novels, short stories, non-fiction, books for children and audiobooks were published internationally. A columnist for The Sydney Morning Herald and The Australian, she also wrote for television and radio and has contributed to many literary magazines, including The Griffith review, Southerly, Westerly and Meanjin and ran courses in creative writing at both NSW and Macquarie Universities.

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