Judy's mother Nancy grew up on the Kalgoorlie goldfields. Her father was a miner. When Judy was researching Kal, she and her mother went back there and spoke to many people about their memories of the town. According to Judy, they were far more forthcoming with information because of her mother being there than they normally would have been. The result is a portrait of a town that really lives on the pages, with a skilfully evoked snese of place and character.*** Kal contains all the qualities that turn books into bestsellers and enduring classics: generations of families, two fabulous love stories, gripping adventure, character-led drama, immaculately researched war passages and memorable and engaging characters. It is also Australian in the way many books try to be, but few succeed, and will appeal to both male and female readers.***'A huge and sumptuous novel...absolutely unputdownable. Nunn is mistress of the old-fashioned story that we all beg to hear.