As a 50-something Australian, I grew up with a big disconnect regarding Christmas. Our Christmas occurs in summer but the cards we received (and could buy) and the carols we sang (and still do) tended to be winter-focused. And then we discovered the carols by Wheeler and James. John Wheeler (lyricist) and William G James (composer) … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Australian Christmas imagery
Australian literature
Vale Ruth Park
"Harp in the South silenced: author Ruth Park dead at 93" confronted me this morning on page 3 of our daily newspaper. I guess it had to happen, but it is nonetheless sad to see such a grand dame of Australian literature leave us. I have referred to her several times on this blog, three … Continue reading Vale Ruth Park
Monday musings on Australian literature: Aussie writers and Jane Austen
Funnily enough, I'm not the only Australian who loves Jane Austen - and so we too have our very own Jane Austen juggernaut. We see the films and miniseries, we have the Jane Austen Society of Australia - and we have academics and others researching and writing on all sorts of topics relating to her. … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Aussie writers and Jane Austen
Monday musings on Australian literature: Silly names for the silly season
It's nearing Christmas, and I'm getting busy, so today's Monday musings will be short ... Ever since I started this blog series, I have wanted to write about Australian place names. We are not, I know, the only country to have interesting or fun place names - and I'd love it if you shared your … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Silly names for the silly season
Peter Carey, Parrot and Olivier in America
It's not surprising, really, that after living in America for two decades Peter Carey should turn his pen to it. Having lived in the US twice myself, I well understand the fascination of trying to understand that large and paradoxical country. In Parrot and Olivier in America, then, Carey sets out to explore America through … Continue reading Peter Carey, Parrot and Olivier in America
Monday musings on Australian literature: The Victorian Literary Map
This week's Monday Musings will be a brief one, partly because my time is tight (I really must finish Parrot and Olivier in America by tomorrow) and partly because I'm primarily going to post a link to a map: the online interactive Victorian Literary Map. As you might have guessed from my various Literary Road postings, … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: The Victorian Literary Map
Dr Peter Kocan wins the 2010 Australia Council Writer’s Emeritus Award
Some literary awards tend to fall somewhat under the radar, and one of these is the Australia Council's Writer's Emeritus Award - even though it's a fairly generous one: $50,000. This is one of those lifetime awards; it is given to a writer over 65 years old* (hence, I suppose, the "emeritus") for "exceptional contribution … Continue reading Dr Peter Kocan wins the 2010 Australia Council Writer’s Emeritus Award
Monday musings on Australian literature: The future of Australian literature
'If their [Australian writers'] work is so interesting,' comes the query, 'why isn't it known here [London]?' This query was put to Australian novelist and literary figure, Vance Palmer, in 1935! When I read it, I couldn't help thinking plus ça change. A few months ago I wrote on Hilary McPhee's concern about the continued low profile … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: The future of Australian literature
Toni Jordan, Fall girl
It's just as well I'm not one of those readers who likes to draw conclusions about writers' lives from their writing, because if I were I'd be seriously concerned about Toni Jordan. You see, her latest novel, Fall girl, is about a con-artist, a very experienced one in fact. And Jordan writes so convincingly you'd … Continue reading Toni Jordan, Fall girl
Monday musings on Australian literature: Guest post by Lisa from ANZLitLovers
When I started this Monday musings series, I said that I'd have the occasional guest post. The first one, I decided then, had to be Lisa at ANZLitLovers. Not only did she give me a lot of encouragement when I started blogging (thanks Lisa!) but she is one of our most committed bloggers on Australian literature. … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Guest post by Lisa from ANZLitLovers
Whispering Gums 