Unfinished Journey: The Odyssey of Robyn Davidson

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Jarrod Wolhuter
October 19, 2023

Robyn Davidson has long captivated readers with her evocative storytelling, fearless adventures, and deep reflections on life’s many challenges. Her memoir, Unfinished Woman, delves deep into her past, presenting a tapestry of experiences that have shaped her identity.

From her upbringing, Davidson has always demonstrated an inclination to challenge societal norms.

“My father was very masculine… Children absorb that from their parents, and then either they buck the system like I did, or they can accept it,” she recalls. This rebel spirit was evident even in her mother, who despite facing challenges and isolation in Outback Queensland for being “different, clever, and funny,” never truly conformed to the typical mould of a “country girl.”

Unfinished Woman has been a project two decades in the making, conceived in Davidson’s late 40s as she began reflecting on her past, especially her relationship with her mother. Describing the writing process, she says:

“With literature, you always have raw material that is chaotic… So yes, it’s a process of taking your life and making art”.

Davidson is candid about the difficulties of memoir-writing, warning against the ego’s pull and stressing the importance of seeking truth over self-aggrandisement.

Beyond familial insights, Davidson’s memoir delves into her legendary journey from Alice Springs to the West coast of Australia. This odyssey, accompanied by four camels and a dog, introduced her to Aboriginal cultures, particularly to old Eddie, who journeyed with her. Their culture’s simplicity and wisdom deeply resonated with Davidson.

“They solved so many human problems with so little. And they made beautiful things. And they thought beautiful thoughts. So what more can you expect of a culture?”

Life also led Davidson to cross paths with literary giant, Doris Lessing, who became more than just a mentor but a substitute mother. The mutual admiration they held for each other was palpable.

“I loved the courage of her work… I also just adored her.”

Robyn in Ghanerao, Rajastan circa 1990. Image courtesy Bloomsbury Publishing

Davidson’s travels extended to Gujarat in India with a nomadic tribe, an experience starkly different from her solo Australian expedition.

“It was this combination of no privacy, coupled with a kind of isolation…” she reflects, contrasting it with her earlier journey where she felt enveloped by nature and solitude.

Amid her tales of adventure, Davidson addresses her deeply tumultuous relationship with controversial author, Salman Rushdie. Davidson expressed strong feelings on last year’s attack on Rushdie, where he lost an eye, describing it as “appalling”. She reinforces the importance of freedom of speech.

Davidson’s deep connection to India was solidified with her marriage to Narendra, which sparked her twenty-year-long “Indian phase.” This included time spent living in the Himalayas; a two-year-long expedition with nomads through Gujarat and Rajastan, and a life shared with her husband Narendra within the Indian caste system.

Unfinished Woman is a riveting exploration of Robyn Davidson’s life, a journey of resilience, self-discovery, and unyielding determination to break free from societal constraints. Through her stories, readers are invited to reflect on their own paths and the myriad ways we can carve out our own destinies.

On the Indigenous Voice Referendum, Davidson expresses her sorrow, emphasizing its symbolic significance and the need for a more informed discourse on Indigenous affairs in Australia.

“I am very sad about the referendum, but alas, not surprised. I never imagined it would make that much difference to Aboriginal mob down at the bottom of the pile, but I did think it was deeply important symbolically, to sharpen up the discourse in our mean spirited, ignorant country in relation to Indigenous people”.

Robyn Davidson will be interviewed by Michaela Kalowski about Unfinished Woman with a Q&A at Petersham Bowls,