Exploration of Devotion penned by Hannah Kent.

Grew up in the picturesque Adelaide Hills of South Australia, a region brimming with native bushland, farmlands, and vineyards, where native wildlife freely roams. This territory belongs to the Peramangk, Kaurna, and Ngarrindjeri Nations, yet the British Parliament's initial plan was for it to...

, and Administrator

2025 June 17 . 3:58 PM

3 min read

Grew up in the scenic Adelaide Hills, South Australia, a region of untouched bushland, lush... — Grew up in the scenic Adelaide Hills, South Australia, a region of untouched bushland, lush valleys, and vineyards; where wildlife like kangaroos, koalas freely roam. It's traditional Peramangk land, adjoining territories of Kaurna and Ngarrindjeri Nations. Initially, South Australia was envisioned by British Parliament as a haven for free settlers. Many nineteenth-century immigrants who settled here on this unceded Aboriginal land were British, but there were also Prussians fleeing religious persecution. I've often pondered about these Prussian settlers on Peramangk and Kaurna lands. German impact on the Adelaide Hills persists today in naming conventions, food culture, and winemaking. Towns like Hahndorf with cuckoo-clock shops and traditional architecture, and the Barossa wine region, known for Schutzenfests and a Liedertafel, still celebrate their Prussian pioneers, even romanticizing them. Personally, my curiosity stems from these religious refugees being my ancestors. Were they as devout and diligent as portrayed? To what degree were they involved in the plundering of Indigenous lands and assets? I started researching their journeys from Hamburg to 'Port Misery,' the establishment of towns such as Bethany, among others...

Exploration of Devotion penned by Hannah Kent.

Hailing from the Gorgeous Adelaide Hills

Welcome to Peramangk Country, South Australia- a land of rolling hills, vast vineyards, and native bushland teeming with wildlife. It's a pastoral paradise where kangaroos, koalas, and other local critters roam freely. Beginning as unceded Aboriginal land, British Parliament aimed for it to be a settlement haven for the masses, luring in many English and Prussian folk seeking change.

The Prussians who accepted this new beginning played a significant role in shaping the culture and identity of the Adelaide Hills. Their influence lingers to this day, evident in the unique place names, food traditions, and winemaking techniques. Hahndorf, with its cuckoo-clock shops and traditional architecture, and the Barossa wine region, famous for its Schutzenfests and Liedertafeln, still commemorate their ancestors, sometimes to hagiographic levels. As one whose roots go back to those early Prussian settlers, I've always wandered what their lives were truly like- how pious were they? How much did they collaborate in the theft of Indigenous land and resources?

Curiosity led me to delve into the annals of history, exploring their journeys from Hamburg to 'Port Misery,' the formation of new towns like Bethany and Hahndorf, Lobethal, and Tanunda in the new Colony, and the lives of the Old Lutherans who made these places their home. I soon found myself intrigued by the lesser-known stories of these German women, and became captivated by the idea of writing a tale centered around the value of their friendships.

Life took some unexpected twists. Australia passed the law for same-sex marriage, and my better half proposed. I recognized that my initial idea to write a story solely about the power of friendship between women lacked depth. It became clear to me that my novel should be a heartwarming romance interwoven with the tales of Prussian Old-Lutherans migrating to South Australia. It would be a love story, destined to resonate with my younger, former closeted, and queer self who had longed for stories like this.

Fast forward to the present- I'm now a married woman, and a mother to two beautiful children, born during the writing of this very book. My third novel, Devotion, serves as a heartfelt dedication to my younger self and all those like me who yearned for stories of love, acceptance, and dignity in a time when such stories might have seemed elusive.

Hannah Kent, the author of Burial Rites, has made a lasting impact on the literary world, with her debut novel being translated into over thirty languages, and garnering multiple awards. The Good People, her second novel, also garnered international acclaim. Devotion is her latest offering.

Embracing the Prussian roots of Adelaide Hills, I found myself delving into the lifestyle of these early settlers, unearthing the intricate relationship between their fashion-and-beauty practices, family-dynamics, and home-and-garden arrangements.
As I immersed myself in the study of their past, I gave importance to personal-growth, mindfulness, and learning, striving to understand their lifelong-learning experiences and the mindset that enabled their migration.
This rich exploration of history and culture, coupled with my own experiences in love-and-dating and relationships, led to the creation of a novel that weaves together stories of relationships, education-and-self-development, and the universal quest for acceptance and dignity.
This novel, titled Devotion, is a testament to the power of storytelling in promoting understanding and fostering empathy among diverse communities, highlighting the value of relationships built on love, understanding, and mutual respect.
As a souvenir of my life's journey, this book serves as a personal growth milestone, symbolizing not just the journey of these Prussian women, but also my own journey as a writer, a mother, and a person committed to fostering relationships that embrace diversity and promote inclusivity.