It is a truth ... no, I can't go there but, just in case you haven't caught up with the news, I'm here to tell you that today, January 28, is the 200th anniversary of Jane Austen's most popular novel, Pride and prejudice. And so I've decided to give Monday Musings a break this week … Continue reading Happy 200th birthday to Pride and prejudice
19th century literature
Josephy Furphy and the Australian scrub
Last weekend I ran across Joseph Furphy, whom I've mentioned before in my blog, in the strangest of places - on a tapestry in the Melbourne Museum. It's not strange of course to find Furphy, one of Australia's pioneer novelists, in the museum, but I was surprised to find him quoted on a tapestry. Except, … Continue reading Josephy Furphy and the Australian scrub
What did Jane Austen look for in a novel?
There are those who don't get Jane Austen. Some think her novels are silly romances while others think that she writes stories about the well-to-do who, they feel, aren't relevant or worthy subjects. Nothing, really, could be further from the truth. Her novels may be romantic but they are more than simple romances. Jane Austen … Continue reading What did Jane Austen look for in a novel?
Kate Chopin, After the winter (Review)
I am, as many of you know, a Kate Chopin fan and I therefore tend to keep an eye out for her in the Library of America's (LOA) Story of the Week program. "After the winter", one of her earlier works, was an LOA story in April and so here I am for the fourth time … Continue reading Kate Chopin, After the winter (Review)
Monday musings on Australian literature: Twenty Australian novelists in 1947
My Monday Musings of two weeks ago was about the first book in a series of four books on Australian fiction. The books were written by Colin Roderick and published by Angus and Robertson. The second book, which is today's topic, was published in 1947, two years after the first, and was titled Twenty Australian novelists. The novelists … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Twenty Australian novelists in 1947
Jane Austen’s letters, 1801-1806
The years from 1801 to 1806 were somewhat unsettled if not downright traumatic years for Jane Austen. In December 1800 her father retired and her parents decided to move themselves and their two daughters to Bath. And then in 1805 her father died, suddenly. She writes to her brother, Francis, on 21 January (Letter 40) … Continue reading Jane Austen’s letters, 1801-1806
Monday musings on Australian literature: The Australian Novel, 1945 style
Every now and then I like to delve into the newspapers digitised by the National Library of Australia and made available via its website. Last week, I was pottering around researching another topic for Monday Musings (for which you'll now have to wait) when I came across an article written in 1945 about a series of … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: The Australian Novel, 1945 style
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: 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
Why did Jane Austen?
What is it about Jane Austen? We all know the basic dichotomy. You know, the division between those who dismiss her as being slight, inconsequential, fluffy, chicklit and those who read her again and again swearing that each time they do they find something new to enjoy and appreciate. But, do you know about the … Continue reading Why did Jane Austen?
Whispering Gums 