This is the fifth in my occasional series of Spotlight posts inspired by Annette Marfording's Celebrating Australian Writing: Conversations with Australian Authors, and this time I'm featuring Georgia Blain who died just over a week ago, three days before her mother Anne Deveson also died. In a comment on my Vale post, Annette Marfording reminded me that she'd interviewed Georgia … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Spotlight on Georgia Blain
Monday musings
Monday musings on Australian literature: ABC RN presenters name their best reads of 2016
Now, here's my conundrum. We (at least I think I can speak for a general "we") want Australians to read widely, because it's important for us to understand cultures that are different to our own. But, given how small the Australian market is, we also want people to read Australian literature (and see, for that matter, Australian films … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: ABC RN presenters name their best reads of 2016
Monday musings on Australian literature: Aussie writers name their pick reads of 2016
December is, or has certainly become in recent years, the month of lists. As always, I'll be saving my lists until the end of 2015, which means you won't see them until January. However, that doesn't mean I can't share other people's lists, does it? I've gleaned the list I'm sharing here from a recent article in … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Aussie writers name their pick reads of 2016
Monday musings on Australian literature: Arnold Haskell on the Arts (1)
A couple of months ago I wrote a post on British dance critic Arnold Haskell's book, Waltzing Matilda: a background to Australia (published in Australia in 1944). I said then that I'd come back to it, so here I am, focusing this time on his chapter on "The Arts". It comprises 22 pages covering, according to … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Arnold Haskell on the Arts (1)
Monday musings on Australian literature: 19th century travellers in Australia
I'm a bit of a sucker for 19th century travellers. The one who started it all was Flora Tristan with her Peregrinations of a pariah (1838). Yes, I know, she was a Frenchwoman travelling in South America, so she's not actually relevant here. And yet, before I get to travellers in Australia I must mention other works I've dipped into: Washington … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: 19th century travellers in Australia
Monday musings on Australian literature: 1902 in Australian literature
Why, you may be asking, have I chosen 1902 for this post? After all, it's not a nice round number of years ago, like 100. I could tease you with hints, but I want to get onto the post proper, so I'll just tell you: it was the year Christina Stead was born. And, as … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: 1902 in Australian literature
Monday musings on Australian literature: The Hope Prize
I came across the beautifully named Hope Prize over the weekend via some online service. Was it Twitter? Was it Facebook? Perhaps even Instagram though I think not, but I really can't recollect. Such is our online lives, eh? Anyhow, the Hope Prize, was, according to the website, established by the Brotherhood of St Laurence "thanks … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: The Hope Prize
Monday musings on Australian literature: Women writers on the outback
After I posted my completion of the AWW Bingo Card yesterday a discussion ensued on Lisa's ANZLitLovers blog regarding her comment on the dearth of books written by women "set in the outback". That got me thinking ... and it seemed like a good topic to play with in a Monday Musings. There's a question to resolve … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Women writers on the outback
Monday musings on Australian literature: Novels about objects
This weekend I went to the National Museum of Australia's current visiting exhibition, A History of the World in 100 Objects from the British Museum. The promo describes it thus: "Explore the history of humanity — how we have shaped the world, and how the world has shaped us — in this major exhibition. Witness compelling stories … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Novels about objects
Monday musings on Australian literature: Patrick White (Literary) Award
I was thrilled to hear on the radio this morning that Carmel Bird had won this year's Patrick White (Literary) Award. Bird is such a worthy winner for this award, but more on that anon. The Patrick White Award* is named, obviously, for one of Australia's most significant writers and only, to date, Nobel Laureate in Literature. … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Patrick White (Literary) Award
Whispering Gums 