Jessica is a historical novel based in real facts by Bryce Courtenay. It has been published in 1998 and like other works from this author covers several years in the life of the main character: Jessica Bergman. It was adapted into a mini-series starring Leeanna Walsman and Sam Neill which aired on Australian television in 2004. Jessica was voted Best Mini Series at the 2004 Chicago International Film Festival. Won twice the APA Who Weekly Reader's Choice Award in 1999 an 2000. Jessica is a tomboy, raised to be her father's son to help out on the farm. Her older sister Meg is very much her... mother's daughter, and it is Meg's and their mother's mission for Meg to seduce Jack Thomas, the town's wealthiest eligible bachelor. Jessica and her dad work each year shearing at Riverview station for the Thomases - the richest family in the district. In the shearing shed, Jessica becomes close friends with Jack Thomas and William D'arcy Simon. Jessica is teased by the other boys, predominanly for simply being female. Eventually she is attacked, with tar poured over her head and hair.
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