The Ladies of Missalonghi by Colleen McCullough is a short fictional drama / novella set in a small town in the Blue Mountains west of Sydney, shortly before the outbreak of the First World War.
 
The story centres on Missy Wright, a quiet, overlooked woman living in the house called Missalonghi with her mother and maiden aunt. Missy’s life appears dull, restricted and predictable, shaped by family expectations and the dominance of the wider Hurlingford clan. When the mysterious John Smith arrives in town and chooses to live alone in the bush, his presence unsettles the community and begins to change Missy’s view of herself and her future.
 
The novella blends romance, social observation and gentle satire. It presents a sharply drawn picture of a society where men appear to dominate, but women quietly exercise power, influence and emotional intelligence.
 
Written in McCullough’s warm and accessible style, it is a lighter work than her major historical novels, but still reflects her interest in strong women, social constraints and personal transformation.
 
This is a desirable title for readers and collectors interested in Colleen McCullough, Australian fiction, romantic fiction, women’s fiction, Blue Mountains settings and short literary novellas.