Chosen as worthy, Bridget was selected from the other young girls at the Waterford workhouse for a free passage to Australia. A victim of the great hunger that had gripped Ireland, it was her chance out of poverty. The story takes the reader to Sydney on the cusp of the gold rush and follows Bridget through one tragedy after another until the outbreak of WWI.
The book delves into the life stories of Bridget's family members and other notable figures. Of particular note is the story of her third husband, Henry, a seaman employed in whaling. The research uncovered the story his first wife, Mary an indigenous Hawaiian woman who he brought to Sydney with tragic consequences.