Try free for 30 days

1 credit a month to use on any title, yours to keep (you’ll use your first credit on this title).
Stream or download thousands of included titles.
Access to exclusive deals and discounts.
$16.45 a month after 30 day trial. Cancel anytime.
A Little Bush Maid cover art

A Little Bush Maid

By: Mary Grant Bruce
Narrated by: Eloise Mignon
Try for $0.00

$16.45 per month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy Now for $21.99

Buy Now for $21.99

Pay using voucher balance (if applicable) then card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions Of Use and Privacy Notice and authorise Audible to charge your designated credit card or another available credit card on file.

Publisher's Summary

Billabong, a large cattle and sheep property in the Australian countryside, is home to 12-year-old Norah Linton, her widowed father, David, and her older brother, Jim. Norah's prim and proper aunts, who live in the city, consider she is in danger of "growing up wild" - riding all over Billabong on her beloved pony, Bobs, helping with mustering, and joining in on all the holiday fun when Jim and his friends come home from boarding school.

A fishing trip results in unexpected drama when they discover a mysterious stranger camped in the bush. Who is this stranger and why is he there? Norah's resourcefulness is tested to the full!

©1910 Mary Grant Bruce Family Trust 1910 (P)2015 Bolinda Publishing Pty Ltd

What listeners say about A Little Bush Maid

Average Customer Ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    10
  • 4 Stars
    1
  • 3 Stars
    0
  • 2 Stars
    1
  • 1 Stars
    0
Performance
  • 4 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    5
  • 4 Stars
    2
  • 3 Stars
    2
  • 2 Stars
    0
  • 1 Stars
    1
Story
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    9
  • 4 Stars
    1
  • 3 Stars
    0
  • 2 Stars
    0
  • 1 Stars
    0

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

A piece of history

This tale, and subsequent 14 books, started out as chapters published in a newspaper back in 1910. The story is a genuine and natural account of life on a rural property in Australia. I grew up on a similar station in north west Queensland in the 1980s and found the stories relevant and relatable.



The reader/listener needs to remember that it was a different time and although the characters portray good, clean manners and respect, there will be things they do and say that are today considered politically incorrect. For example, I cringed every time they talked of killing snakes which are now protected in Australia.



The story is of a 12 yo girl spending summer holidays with her 15yo brother and two of his mates from boarding school, one of whom becomes a regular in the series. They all get along very well together and we get to understand their hearts and purity and experience a taste of station life.



The series goes on to experience heartache, beauty, adventure, devastation and resilience as the children grow into adults, war comes and, after the war, their dynamics change. 



The narrator had little range for voices to differentiate the characters and completely misrepresented Mrs Brown, but she is articulate and authentically Australian, so the narration doesn’t detract from the value of the writing.



I can only hope that the entire series is published. Many reproductions of the books are limited to just a few in the series, and those are often abbridged, too. But honestly, all 15 are important and dear and should be a staple in every child’s home. 

I cannot speak highly enough of this series. Please let all the books be published by Bolinda or Audible.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Great Story, bad performer

Eloise doesn't change her voice much during the dialogues, which would've helped, and pacing was all over the place.

Would rather have two performers if Eloise had to be involved, or get a significantly skill voice actor.
Great story deserves a better actor

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

In the spirit of reconciliation, Audible acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.