Natalie Scott
Acclaimed author, Natalie Scott, returns with a deeply introspective and semi-autobiographical narrative.
A key lies at the heart of this evocative memoir—unlocking long-buried memories of a childhood shaped by beauty, fear, and fierce emotional undercurrents in 1930s and 1940s Australia.
Narrated by Natasha Ross, born to middle-class parents of European origins, this is a story shadowed by her complex and brilliant mother, Nina, whose first act of motherhood teeters on the edge of tragedy above a seaside cliff. Her father, Marcus, warm and sociable, is caught between loyalty to his wife and love for his daughter.
When Natasha is sent to a conservative boarding school in the Blue Mountains, she comes under the authority of one English and one French co-principal. Natasha encounters a world of routine, silence, and subtle cruelties. While the Depression and World War II stir beyond the school gates, Natasha faces her own battles: navigating loneliness, forging friendships, and confronting the pressures of conformity. In time, she runs—not just from the school, but toward her own developing sense of self.
Unflinching and lyrical, A Secret Grief is a meditation on memory, survival, and the forces that shape—and sometimes fracture—our earliest bonds.
For your chance to win one a copy of A Secret Grief, submit the form below. If the details are not correct, please update your details through My Account. The competition closes 12:00 AM AEST on Thursday, 8 January 2026. Only one entry per member is permitted and only one prize will be awarded to the winner. This prize will not be exchanged for any other, unless specified by National Seniors Australia.
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