''The Potato Factory'' is a 1995 fictionalised historical novel by

Bryce Courtenay Arthur Bryce Courtenay, (14 August 1933 – 22 November 2012) was a South African-Australian advertising director and novelist. He is one of Australia's best-selling authors, notable for his book '' The Power of One''. Background and early ye ...

, which was made into a four-part miniseries in Australia in 2000. The book is the first in a three-part series, followed by '' Tommo & Hawk'' and '' Solomon's Song''. ''The Potato Factory'' has been the subject of some controversy regarding its historical accuracy and its portrayal of

Jewish Jews (, , ), or the Jewish people, are an ethnoreligious group and nation, originating from the Israelites of History of ancient Israel and Judah, ancient Israel and Judah. They also traditionally adhere to Judaism. Jewish ethnicity, rel ...

characters. The book is based on Ikey Solomon, known as the "Prince of Fences" and the basis of the Fagin character in the

Charles Dickens Charles John Huffam Dickens (; 7 February 1812 – 9 June 1870) was an English novelist, journalist, short story writer and Social criticism, social critic. He created some of literature's best-known fictional characters, and is regarded by ...

novel '' Oliver Twist''. Courtenay states that it is a fictional historical novel based on extensive research, but it depicts fictionalised versions of the characters. Author Judith Sackville-O'Donnell, who wrote another book on Solomon, claimed that the book was inaccurate and anti-Semitic. The book's other main characters are Solomon's wife, Hannah, and his (fictional) mistress, Mary Abacus. Abacus goes from serving girl, to prostitute, to high-class madam, to prisoner transported to Tasmania, to successful businesswoman. She gets her name for her outstanding ability to use an

abacus An abacus ( abaci or abacuses), also called a counting frame, is a hand-operated calculating tool which was used from ancient times in the ancient Near East, Europe, China, and Russia, until the adoption of the Hindu–Arabic numeral system. A ...

. The story starts in

London London is the Capital city, capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of both England and the United Kingdom, with a population of in . London metropolitan area, Its wider metropolitan area is the largest in Wester ...

in the early 19th century. Abacus and Ikey Solomon start working together as business partners. It follows them as they are separately sent to Tasmania, a penal colony at the time. Abacus takes up the art of brewing and establishes a pub called The Potato Factory while raising her children by Solomon. Meanwhile, Hannah, who also has children, views Abacus as her bitter rival. The book tells of Hannah's attempts to destroy Abacus.

Television miniseries

A four-part miniseries filmed in New South Wales, Australia, first aired in July 2000.

Cast

* Ben Cross as Ikey Solomon / Reuban Reuban * Lisa McCune as Mary Abacus * Sonia Todd as Helen Solomon * Robert Grubb as Mr Emmett * David Ngoombujarra as Billy Gonequeer * Di Smith as Margaret Keating * Linal Haft as George Madden * Firass Dirani as David Soloman

References

External links

The Potato Factory at the National Film and Sound Archive
{{DEFAULTSORT:Potato Factory, The 1995 Australian novels 1990s Australian television miniseries 1995 Australian television series debuts 1995 Australian television series endings 1995 television films 1995 films Television series by Sony Pictures Television Australian historical novels Novels by Bryce Courtenay Novels set in London Novels set in Tasmania Heinemann (publisher) books Novels set in the 19th century