This debut novel (1994) by Tasmanian writer Richard Flanagan is one of the best literary works I’ve read in years. Aljaz Cosini is leading a group of tourists on a river rafting trip on the Franklin River. The trip is problematic from the start and now he is drowning. As he drowns he discovers he is having visions. They include the recent events that led to this horrible predicament, as well as the life events of different family members including ancestors he never met. This imaginative blend of magical realism and descriptive prose that includes the convict heritage of Tasmania and the lush land of the jungle is quirky, compelling and beautifully written.  This novel sweeps the reader through the quiet spaces and rapids of one man’s life. ~ Gretchen Echols

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