Text reproduced courtesy of Max Fatchen.

This item with illustrations by Clyde Pearson is reproduced courtesy of Egmont Books Limited. It may be printed or saved for research or study.

Use for any other purpose requires written permission from Max Fatchen, Egmont Books Limited and the State Library of South Australia. Further information may be found at Permission to publish.

The River Murray and its landscape provide a unique setting for The River Kings with its universal theme of coming of age. Chasing a childhood dream, and escaping an unhappy home life, 16 year old Shawn Hofner takes a job on a paddle-steamer on the River Murray. The harsh realities of working on a riverboat, tempered by friendships and romance, contribute to the boy becoming an adult.

Written in 1966, The River Kings was Max Fatchen's first book. Inspiration for the story came first-hand from Max's experiences in the Riverland reporting on the 1956 floods and later the proposed Chowilla Dam. Two of Max Fatchen's novels, The River Kings and Conquest of the River, were together adapted to make the mini-series The River Kings.

Max Fatchen has written for both adults and children, and many of his novels have been inspired by his experiences as a journalist. He has received numerous awards for both his novels and poetry, and in 1980 was made a Member of the Order of Australia for his services to journalism and literature.

Male, Andrew. Other times: the life and work of Max Fatchen. Kent Town, S. Aust.: Wakefield Press, 1997.

South Australian author: Max Fatchen [Adelaide City Council]

State Library of SA factsheets: Max Fatchen