Missing by Tom Patterson

 

This is the true story of Mark May who lived as a hermit in bushland around Armidale for thirty five years. Tom Patterson has gathered his material from speaking with Mark’s family and people who knew him, and from reading Mark’s letters in which he spoke of his search for a way to live his life; and he has presented it in a compelling and utterly absorbing way. I was hooked from the first page of this book which was completely different to anything I have ever read.

Mark May was one of seven brothers, an academically brilliant young man studying at ANU under a scholarship. There are some terrific photographs in the book showing Mark’s stunning good looks. He was the second-born of the seven sons and although he was his mother’s favourite he craved his father’s attention. He was prescribed Mogadon for his problems with getting to sleep while still in high school and when that no longer did the trick he was given Mandrax and so on until he was looking for bigger and better solutions.

Mark started spending more and more time out in the bushland areas of New England and gradually started to set up camps where he spent his time reading and writing letters, some of which are published in the book. He was a highly intelligent, extremely complicated person; and I just realised that I am doing what I don’t like seeing others do, which is giving away too much of this fantastic story.

Tom Patterson’s writing is mesmerising. For someone who never knew Mark May to have put his life story together so seamlessly from interviews and letters is a wonderful achievement. I found this book on Libby,  the on-line borrowing service from Parkes Library. I cannot believe my luck!

This is a five star read and I hope it is going to reach a huge audience.

Published by Allen & Unwin