Hill, Ernestine (1899-1972), an Australian author, wrote the historical novel My Love Must Wait (1941). Her novel is based on the life of the British explorer Matthew Flinders in the late 1700’s and early 1800’s. The subject matter of Flinders’s successful exploration and his unhappy later years lends itself to the romantic and emotional treatment of the novel. Critics praise the novel for its factual accuracy and its skillful reconstruction of historical background.
Hill was born on Jan. 21, 1899, in Brisbane. Her real name was Ernestine Hemmings. Beginning in 1930, she traveled widely throughout Australia for many years. Her wanderings resulted in several books about the country, including The Great Australian Loneliness (1937) and Australia, Land of Contrasts (1943). Hill wrote for many Australian periodicals and was a member of the Australian Broadcasting Commission from 1942 to 1944. She died on Aug. 22, 1972.
