Sue Williams: The Governor, His Wife and His Mistress

Next date: Saturday, 03 May 2025 | 02:00 PM to 04:00 PM

From Sue Williams - the bestselling writer that brought you Elizabeth & Elizabeth and That Bligh Girl - comes The Governor, His Wife, and His Mistress, another fascinating story of female friendship, betrayal and triumphs based on historical events.

When future governor Philip Gidley King sailed with the First Fleet to the new colony, he had his pick of the convict women to look after him.

This is a story of tangled love affairs, female friendship, twisted loyalties, betrayals, hardship, male infidelity, and the tragedies and triumphs of life in a new land.

Please join the Friends of Kiama Library for afternoon tea after the talk, when books will be available for purchase and signing.

$8 FOKL members/ $10 guests (includes afternoon tea). Everyone welcome.

Tickets are available online, at the library, or call 02 4233 1133.

The Governor, His Wife, and His Mistress

Sue Williams Governor 'Williams skilfully shows the too-often overlooked impact women had on the early development of the colony.' - Meg Keneally, The Weekend Australian

'The very best historical fiction, Williams’ novel gives voice in a page-turning narrative to the compelling lives and experiences of two forgotten women of early colonial Australia,' - Melissa Ashley, author of The Naturalist of Amsterdam

When future governor Philip Gidley King sailed with the First Fleet to the new colony, he had his pick of the convict women to look after him.

Two years, and two sons, later, he set out back to England to provide a report on Sydney and its newly tamed Norfolk Island, as his mistress Ann Inett begged him to return to her and their children.

After a year and a half he did – but bringing with him a shocking secret that would cut her to the core, and change all their lives forevermore.This is a story of tangled love affairs, female friendship, twisted loyalties, betrayals, hardship, male infidelity, and the tragedies and triumphs of life in a new land.

Sue Williams

Sue Williams' first two historical novels, Elizabeth & Elizabeth, about Elizabeth Macquarie and Elizabeth Macarthur, and That Bligh Girl, with Mary Bligh and her father, the notorious mutiny survivor and governor William Bligh, both proved bestsellers. Now this is her third, being the prequel, in her series about the early days of colonial Australia.

She believes we have one of the most colourful pasts in the world and is always eager to explore it and give a voice to some of the most fascinating characters, usually women, who have been the most unheard until now.

Sue is also an award-winning journalist, travel writer and bestselling author of non-fiction. Her previous books include Run For Your Life: The remarkable true story of a family forced into hiding after leaking Russian secrets; Under Her Skin: The life and work of Professor Fiona Wood; Mean Streets, Kind Heart: The Father Chris Riley Story; Father Bob: The larrikin priest; The Last Showman: Fred Brophy; No Time For Fear: Paul de Gelder; Peter Ryan: The inside story; And Then The Darkness and Daughter of the River Country. Other books are about travel, true crime and genetics, while she has also had a children's book published.

Sue lives in Sydney with her partner Jimmy Thomson, who writes crime thriller novels as James Dunbar, and their cat who remains steadfastly unimpressed by anything they do.