An All Consuming Passion: Origins, Modernity, and the Australian Life of Georgiana Molloy

Set against the magnificent backdrop of Australia's geological, human, and natural history, An All Consuming Passion is the story of amateur botanist Georgiana Molloy. In 1829 she married a retired Army captain and emigrated from Scotland to the remote southwestern corner of Australia. William Lines weaves the story of Molloy's life and increasing commitment to botany with the broader story of colonial invasion. He uses Molloy's experience—known mostly through her prolific letters—to highlight issues such as gender inequality in colonial society, the British misunderstanding and abuse of Aboriginal culture, and the impact of Aborigines and colonists on the landscape of Australia.