Chasing The Horizon

The discovery of a family history, of secrets and adventure - from the Adelaide Hills to a wild, little-known land far from the safety of home - is stunningly revealed in master storyteller Di Morrissey's 32nd novel.

In 1912, Dora Thompson leaves Sydney to take up a role in New Guinea as a governess. Instead, she finds herself without work and stranded - until she meets an intriguing group of German and English residents, including a charismatic photographer and a collector of tribal artefacts, who have made New Guinea their home. As she enters their extraordinary world, the shadow of war falls over the German-controlled island, changing all their lives.

Over a century later, filmmaker Chloe arrives in the Adelaide Hills to retrace her family history, inspired by her great-grandmother Dora's writings about her life in New Guinea. The strange and dangerous times Dora describes are rich material for a feature film, but to make this dream a reality, Chloe must assemble a crew to scout out New Guinea - eventually to film in the highlands, villages and plantations where her great-grandparents fell in love.

Separated by generations, Chloe discovers that she and Dora share a daring search for purpose, independence and happiness in the most unexpected of places ...