Brothel mistress Hannah is Ikey Solomon's wife, whilst Mary is his sometimes mistress. When Hannah and Mary are banished to Australia, they set about raising their separate familes. Ikey is drawn to the colony where the destinies of both family groups are locked together by his greed.Brothel mistress Hannah is Ikey Solomon's wife, whilst Mary is his sometimes mistress. When Hannah and Mary are banished to Australia, they set about raising their separate familes. Ikey is drawn to the colony where the destinies of both family groups are locked together by his greed. Winner of APA People's Choice Award for Fiction 1997.