Three weeks ago, I published a post on the first decade of the Miles Franklin Award. That seemed to interest some of my readers, so I'm back again with the next decade. I hope it's equally interesting. Again, I won't be describing all the decade's winners. You can check the Award's official site to see a complete list of … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Miles Franklin Award, the second decade (1968-1977)
Commentary
Sarah Kanake and Down syndrome in literature
In the media release accompanying my copy of Sarah Kanake's Sing fox to me (my review), we are told not only that Kanake's brother has Down syndrome but that she has a PhD in creative writing from the Queensland University of Technology "on the representations of Down syndrome in Australian literature". As far as I know her … Continue reading Sarah Kanake and Down syndrome in literature
Monday musings on Australian literature: Miles Franklin Award, the first decade (1958-1967)
This month we expect to see the announcement of the Miles Franklin Award longlist. While it's no longer Australia's richest literary prize, it is still the best-known and, if you can measure such things, our most prestigious. It is managed by a Trustee using the estate left for that purpose by author Miles Franklin. It was first awarded … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Miles Franklin Award, the first decade (1958-1967)
National Eucalypt Day
After writing my Monday Musings on World Poetry Day this week, I was surprised to discover that today, Wednesday 23rd March, is National Eucalypt Day. I had no idea we had such a day, which is probably not surprising as this is only its 3rd year. It is an initiative of the Bjarn K Dahl … Continue reading National Eucalypt Day
Helen Macdonald, The human flock (Commentary)
I know, I know, I sound like I'm obsessed with Helen Macdonald. I'm not, but I am interested in nature and landscape, and she has thought and researched at length about the topic. I've called this post a commentary, because it's not a review. Rather, I'm going to draw on both an On Nature column she … Continue reading Helen Macdonald, The human flock (Commentary)
Jane Austen on history and historians
Jane Austen, we know from her letters, was a keen reader. She read novels, sermons, plays and poetry, magazines and, of course, histories. Did you know, though, that she also wrote a history? This is her juvenilia piece, The history of England from the reign of Henry the 4th to the death of Charles the 1st (online … Continue reading Jane Austen on history and historians
Monday musings on Australian literature: Regional differences in Australian English
While dining in Thredbo this weekend, we were served by a waiter who, when I asked for a certain ingredient to be excluded from my dish, repeated it back with the order, "and no to-mAY-to" she said. Her accent wasn't strong but this stood out, so when she returned to our table, we asked whether … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Regional differences in Australian English
My encounter with Encounters
I rarely write about museum exhibitions, and when I do it's usually in the context of a travel post, but I do want to share with you our National Museum of Australia's current exhibition, Encounters. Subtitled "Revealing stories of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Objects from the British Museum", it is described by the Museum as "one … Continue reading My encounter with Encounters
Books given and received for Christmas, in 2015
I did a "books given and received post" last Boxing Day, and decided to do it again. It's a useful record for me to keep, and may just interest you, so, here goes. For Mr Gums, who is often up for a walk: Walking and cycling Canberra's Centenary Trail For Ms Gums Jr, in her … Continue reading Books given and received for Christmas, in 2015
Monday musings on Australian literature: More on small books
Why is it that when we humans see change, we tend to prognosticate doom? I'm thinking how it was argued that TV would be the end of radio, and videos the end of cinema. It hasn't happened has it? These older industries may have had to rearranged themselves a little but they have survived. Then … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: More on small books
Whispering Gums 