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{{Infobox
| name = The Lieutenant
| image =
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| author = [[Kate Grenville]]
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'''''The Lieutenant''''' is an historical novel by [[Kate Grenville]], published in 2008. The novel loosely follows historical facts based on the experiences of [[
==Plot==
Danielle Rooke (loosely based on Dawes) is a self possessed boy whose parents seek to better his prospects in life by having him brought to the attention of important people and thus given opportunities others of his station in life may not have had. Among them is the [[Astronomer Royal]]. He is a mathematical [[Genius (disambiguation)|prodigy]] but must keep this or else be victimised by adults and fellow students.
After graduating from the [[Royal Naval College, Portsmouth]], he takes up a commission in the Royal Marines. During the [[American Revolutionary War]], he is almost killed by a falling [[spar (sailing)|spar]], and takes several years to recover.
Just before the First Fleet sails for what is be the [[penal colony]] of New South Wales, he is invited by the Astronomer Royal to take instruments and observe the passage of a predicted comet. He accepts, and is also in the company of another officer (Silk) who he had known during the war.
As the astronomer, Rooke is given considerable freedom and establishes an observatory on a headland outside the colony's camp, and remains there in a hut except when required to be at the camp or on routine, weekly meals to remain in contact with opther officers.
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Rooke establishes contact with the local Aboriginal people, and a young girl in particular who teaches him words while also learning English. Rooke keeps several books with grammar and meanings of words. Silk finds the books, and wants them to become part of his reports on the colony to a publisher in London.
A member of the colony is speared by aboriginals after what may have been an attempt to kill aborigines. The [[Governor of New South Wales]] orders Silk to take a party to capture the particular Aborigine. Rooke is to accompany the party, and shares the intent of the party to the girl with the idea that the aborigines should be warned.
Rooke's has compromised his own position, but is personally at peace with the dcision.
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==Awards and nominations==
* shortlisted:<ref>[http://textpublishing.com.au/books-and-authors/book/the-lieutenant/ ''The Lieutenant - Kate Grenville''], [[Text Publishing]]</ref>
** NSW Premier’s Literary Awards
** Queensland Premier’s Literary Awards
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{{reflist}}
* [http://textpublishing.com.au/books-and-authors/book/the-lieutenant/ ''The Lieutenant - Kate Grenville''] - [[Text Publishing]] official page
* [http://www.groveatlantic.com/#page=isbn9780802145031 ''The Lieutenant by Kate Grenville''
==External links==
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