Pottering around old Australian newspapers on Trove, I came across reports of a "plebiscite" on Australian poets and authors. Suggested by the Australian Literature Society, it asked readers of Melbourne's The Argus newspaper to send in the names "of those whom they regard as the six leading poets and the six foremost writers of fiction of … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Plebiscite on Australian poets and novelists, 1927
Author: Whispering Gums
The Griffyns ask Do you believe?
I've said it before and I'll probably say it again, the Griffyns are a tricksy lot. Their second program for 2014 was titled The Three Futurists and was aligned with National Science Week. The theme was "Do you believe" - but we quickly realised that it wasn't only do you believe in something, though that was … Continue reading The Griffyns ask Do you believe?
More on Simone de Beauvoir’s Memoirs of a dutiful daughter
My recent review of Simone de Beauvoir's Memoirs of a beautiful daughter was a little dry, focusing on some specific ideas or issues that interested me, rather than on her writing. It's a pretty dense book, containing detailed description of her life and thoughts, but her fearless and often evocative writing carries it. I'd like to share a few … Continue reading More on Simone de Beauvoir’s Memoirs of a dutiful daughter
Simone de Beauvoir, Memoirs of a dutiful daughter (Review)
I have only read one other work by Simone de Beauvoir - and I'm ashamed to say that it wasn't The second sex (which still sits in my long-in-the-tooth TBR pile). It was, instead, one of her autobiographical novels, She came to stay. I enjoyed it as I recollect, but that was a long time ago. … Continue reading Simone de Beauvoir, Memoirs of a dutiful daughter (Review)
Monday musings on Australian literature: Nature Writing Prize
You know what they say, too much of a good thing is bad for you, so, to save you dear readers from bad things, I thought we'd take a break this week from my historical survey of Australian literature. And, since I received this morning an email containing a call for submissions for Nature Conservancy Australia's … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Nature Writing Prize
Toshio Mori, Japanese Hamlet (Review)
What I love about the Library of America is the variety of works it features in its Story of the Week program. Because of my interest in Japan and Japanese writers, I was particularly attracted to Toshio Mori's story, "Japanese Hamlet", that they published a couple of weeks ago. Toshio Mori was one of the first Japanese-American … Continue reading Toshio Mori, Japanese Hamlet (Review)
Delicious descriptions: Brooke Davis on salmon gums
In my recent review of Brooke Davis' novel Lost & found I mentioned her descriptions but didn't really give any examples. I can't leave this book without giving you two that involve a rather interesting tree. It also gives me an opportunity to share my photographs of one! They are beautiful (though my photographs don't … Continue reading Delicious descriptions: Brooke Davis on salmon gums
Monday musings on Australian literature: Australian writers in England, 1911
I've devoted a few Monday Musings recently to Australian writers in the first few decades of the twentieth century. I expect to do a few more in coming months, as I'm enjoying the research. Today, I'm drawing from a report of a talk given by Barbara Baynton in Sydney in 1911 to the Writers and Artists Union. The article, … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Australian writers in England, 1911
Brooke Davis, Lost & found (Review)
I must say that my antennae go up when I hear a book being touted as a publishing sensation even before it is published, as Brooke Davis' recently published debut novel Lost & found, was. What does that mean? That it was the subject of a mega-dollar bidding war like, say, Hannah Kent's Burial rites? Well, … Continue reading Brooke Davis, Lost & found (Review)
Monday musings on Australian literature: Australian women writers, 1930s
In July I wrote two posts based on Nettie Palmer's 1920s assessment of great Australian novels. In 1935, another Australian novelist, Zora Cross, wrote an article about Australian women novelists and poets. I enjoy reading these contemporary perspectives, and I think some of you are interested too ... do let me know if you aren't. … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Australian women writers, 1930s
Whispering Gums 