Back in November, I wrote a post on the Arts chapter in dance critic Arnold Haskell's book Waltzing Matilda and focused on theatre and literature. In this post, I'll look at his discussion of the press. "compares ... favourably" Haskell starts by saying that Australia's press started in a "thoroughly unprincipled and worthless manner", though he doesn't … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Arnold Haskell on the Arts (2)
Author: Whispering Gums
Jane Fletcher Geniesse, Passionate nomad: The life of Freya Stark (Review)
My reading group came to read Jane Fletcher Geniesse's biography, Passionate nomad: The life of Freya Stark, by a somewhat circuitous route - and it started with my blog. One of our members had read my Monday Musings post on 19th century travellers, and suggested that we read a 19th century travel writer. Somehow, as … Continue reading Jane Fletcher Geniesse, Passionate nomad: The life of Freya Stark (Review)
Six degrees of separation, FROM Fates and furies TO The Buddha of suburbia
You probably all know the Six Degrees of Separation monthly "meme" by now, but here's the info for those of you who haven't caught up with it yet. It's currently hosted by Kate (booksaremyfavouriteandbest). Each month, she nominates a book, from which "players" create a chain of six more books, linking one from the other as the spirit moves. … Continue reading Six degrees of separation, FROM Fates and furies TO The Buddha of suburbia
Delicious descriptions: Freya Stark on a studied absence of curiosity
Usually I post a Delicious Description after my main post on the book in question, but I'm reversing my practice this time, for no other reason than time. I haven't quite finished my main post but am going to be out of town for a few days, so I thought I'd whet your appetite while I'm … Continue reading Delicious descriptions: Freya Stark on a studied absence of curiosity
Monday musings on Australian literature: The cost of literary awards
I must get better at noting who posts links on social media that I later take up and use on my blog. Today's post was inspired by an article posted on Twitter (I think) early last December last (and I now thank whoever it was who posted it!) The article is by The Sydney Morning … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: The cost of literary awards
Louisa Atkinson, A voice from the country: January (Review)
Louisa Atkinson, as I wrote in a post a few years ago, was a pioneer Australian writer. She was a significant botanist, our first Australian-born woman novelist, and the first Australian woman to have a long-running column in a major newspaper. It was a natural history series titled A Voice from the Country which ran in The Sydney Morning Herald for … Continue reading Louisa Atkinson, A voice from the country: January (Review)
My literary week (6), this and that
Life is a bit busy at present, but I am still reading - this and that, here and there, as you do! First, there's politics I'm not a political blogger so I don't want to focus too much on politics, but I did enjoy some of the signs carried by people attending the various women's marches held … Continue reading My literary week (6), this and that
Monday musings on Australian literature: Some Australian adventurers
Regular readers here may remember that last year I wrote a few posts (this, this and this) inspired by books I found while clearing out my late aunt's house. Well, here comes another. It's inspired by a book that was probably a school text because my aunt wrote her name and her school in the front cover. The book is Some … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Some Australian adventurers
Claire Battershill, Circus (Review)
Metaphors and allusions can be dangerous. The inside-front-flap-blurb for Claire Battershill's debut collection of short stories, Circus, concludes that the book "is a beautiful reminder that sometimes everyday life can be the greatest show on earth". A reviewer on the back cover describes it as "the kind of book you'll want to run away with". As I … Continue reading Claire Battershill, Circus (Review)
Friedrich Gerstäcker, Australia: A German traveller in the Age of Gold (Review)
Friedrich Gerstäcker's Australia: A German traveller in the Age of Gold was first published in its original German, as Australien, in 1854. Gerstäcker did prepare, at that time, an English language version of his travels, but the section on Australia, at least, was much shorter than his German edition, and is all English readers have been able to … Continue reading Friedrich Gerstäcker, Australia: A German traveller in the Age of Gold (Review)
Whispering Gums 