Powerful invocations of Aboriginal, Australian and Queensland history link with accounts of violent cultural conflicts in Europe and elsewhere. The overarching theme of migration as the essence of human life from the beginning of time leads to a haunting description of refuge and asylum seeking in the world today.But most of all The River is a deeply spiritual and philosophical journey in time. Its history from birth to death, in a mixture of destiny, chance and fate, conjures up both the creative spirit and the origins of evil. This highly imaginative work celebrates the joys and agonies, longings and belongings, splendour and violence in our continuing search for self-knowledge. Ultimately it is a deeply moving homage to the brotherhood of man.