The Touch: a powerful, sweeping family saga from the international bestselling author of The Thorn Birds

Colleen McCullough

Feb 2012 · Random House

About this ebook

Let international bestselling author Colleen McCullough sweep you away with this enthralling, evocative and emotional saga of one woman's quest to come to terms with a new life. If you like Victoria Hislop, Lucinda Riley and Fiona Valpy, you'll love this!

'Fast-moving and immensely readable... Back to the open spaces, merciless climate and sheer pioneering stance of the magical THE THORN BIRDS, this book is a page turner from start to finish' -- Maeve Binchy
'A compelling, passionate and gritty saga that was well worth the wait' -- She
'A powerful saga' -- Mirror
'Absorbing' -- Sunday Telegraph
'I could put this book down. I was consumed with it' -- ***** Reader review
'This book is utterly compelling and quite simply, I loved it. I wanted to finish it, but, didn't want it to end. Beautifully written, descriptive passages. A truly Master author. Thank you' -- ***** Reader review
'One of the best reads I've had in years' -- ***** Reader review
'Thoroughly loved this book, I was hooked from the first page!' -- ***** Reader review

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Alexander Kinross is remembered in his native Scotland only as a shiftless boilermaker's apprentice. But when he writes from Australia to summon his bride, his relatives realize he is now a man to be reckoned with.

Arriving in Sydney after a difficult voyage, sixteen-year-old Elizabeth Drummond meets her husband-to-be and discovers that he frightens and repels her.

Isolated in Alexander's great house, Elizabeth finds that marriage does not prompt her husband to enlighten her about his past life - nor his present one, in which his mistress, the sensuous, tough, outspoken Ruby Costevan, still plays a part...

Will she be able to forge a happy new life in this new world?

Ratings and reviews

I needed a good read , this started well! Then was just, awful, with a terrible ending! Don't if you are someone who refuses to not finish a book, don't start it!

Interesting from start to finish.

Beautiful enjoyed it

About the author

Colleen McCullough was born in Australia. A neurophysiologist, she established the department of neurophysiology at the Royal North Shore Hospital in Sydney, then worked as a researcher and teacher at Yale Medical School for ten years. Her writing career began with the publication of Tim, followed by The Thorn Birds, a record-breaking international bestseller. The author of over ten other novels, including the acclaimed 'Masters of Rome' series, Dr McCullough also wrote lyrics for musical theatre. Until her death in 2015 she lived on Norfolk Island in the Pacific with her husband.