We all know Romeo and Juliet, Elizabeth and Darcy, and Cathy and Heathcliff. They are ingrained into the consciousness of readers of English literature. But we Aussies have some couples of our own and I thought it might be fun to introduce you to just a few. They are interesting, not only because they are … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Famous Australian literary couples
Monday musings
Monday musings on Australian literature: Louisa Atkinson, and indigenous Australians
Time for another Monday Musings highlighting an Australian literary pioneer, this time Louisa Atkinson. I came across Atkinson a few years ago when I was researching Australian women writers for Wikipedia. She's one of those women who achieved much in her field but who, I believe, is little known. She was a journalist, novelist and … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Louisa Atkinson, and indigenous Australians
Monday musings on Australian literature: Women writers and politics in the 1930s
I have written before about the fact that there's been two periods in Australian literature when women writers seem to have flourished. One was around the 1920s to 1930s and the other around the 1970s to 1980s. Today I want to write a little about this first period because, from the perspective of 80 plus … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Women writers and politics in the 1930s
Monday musings on Australian literature: Australian Living Treasures
Over the weekend, the list of Australian Living Treasures was updated. This has to happen every now then because, you know, our living treasures have a habit of dying eventually, which rather disqualifies them from the list! I've chosen to write this post this week for two reasons. The most obvious one is the updating … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Australian Living Treasures
Monday musings on Australian literature: Guest post from Tony of Tony’s Book World
As with most of my guest posters to date, I came across Tony (of Tony's Book World) not long after I commenced blogging. He stood out like a beacon because he was a non-Aussie blogger who had read a significant amount of Australian literature, including Patrick White no less. If you check his blog, you … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Guest post from Tony of Tony’s Book World
Monday musings on Australian literature: Judging a book by its cover
"Don't judge a book by its cover" is one of those mantras that we've all heard. It's a pretty valid one too - literally and metaphorically - but that doesn't mean that we can't enjoy looking at bookcovers and handling beautifully produced books, does it? At least that's how I see it as a reader. … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Judging a book by its cover
Monday musings on Australian literature: Favourite first (Australian) lines
This is a bit of a copout, I know, but I'm travelling this week and don't have a lot of time to write a seriously considered post. So, I've decided to simply do a list - of some of my favourite first lines from Australian literature. Like most readers I think, I do love a … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Favourite first (Australian) lines
Monday musings on Australian literature: Jessica Anderson
Every now and then I feature a specific writer in my Monday Musings - and they've usually been women because they tend to be overlooked. Take Jessica Anderson (1916-2010), for example. Most keen AusLit readers will know her because her novel Tirra lirra by the river made quite a splash when it was published in 1978, … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Jessica Anderson
Monday musings on Australian literature: On the making of a classic
Having completed the book, I tried to get it published, but everyone to whom I offered it refused even to look at the manuscript on the ground that no Colonial could write anything worth reading. They gave no reason for this extraordinary opinion, but it was sufficient for them, and they laughed to scorn the … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: On the making of a classic
Monday musings on Australian literature: On nurturing Australian literary classics
Over the weekend an article appeared in The Age describing the parlous situation regarding recognition of classic Australian literature. Written by Michael Heyward of Text Publishing, it's titled "Classics going to waste" and argues that those who have the power to choose and influence what people might read - publishers, professors, teachers, journalists, commentators, editors - have done a lamentable job of … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: On nurturing Australian literary classics
Whispering Gums 