On the basis that what novelists write about provides some sort of insight into their times, I've done a little survey of the books published by Australian writers in 1923 to see what their subject matter might tell us about Australian life and literature 100 years ago. First, here are the books I found, mostly … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: on 1923: 5, Novels and their subjects
20th century literature
John M. Oskison, The singing bird (#Review)
From Zitkala-Ša's 1901-published "The soft-hearted Sioux", Great short stories by contemporary Native American writers jumps a quarter of a century to 1925, and John M. Oskison's "The singing bird". John M. Oskison Again, anthology editor Bob Blaisdell provides a brief intro to the author, but it's Wikipedia that is able to provide more detail. John … Continue reading John M. Oskison, The singing bird (#Review)
Zitkala-Sa, The soft-hearted Sioux (#Review)
Zitkala-Ša's "The soft-hearted Sioux" is the second story in the anthology, Great short stories by contemporary Native American writers, sent to me by my American friend. I posted on the first one, Pauline Johnson's "A red girl's reasoning", a couple of weeks ago. Zitkala-Ša As he does for all the stories, anthology editor Bob Blaisdell … Continue reading Zitkala-Sa, The soft-hearted Sioux (#Review)
Gwendolyn Brooks, Maud Martha (#BookReview)
I came across Gwendolyn Brooks' 1953-published novella, Maud Martha, on JacquiWine's blog last year, and was confident it was a book for me - so I bought the e-Book version and read it slowly on my phone and iPad whenever I was out and about. This sort of reading doesn't work for all books, but … Continue reading Gwendolyn Brooks, Maud Martha (#BookReview)
D’Arcy Niland, The parachutist (#Review)
D'Arcy Niland has appeared in my blog before but not in his own right. He was the Australian-born husband of the New Zealand-born Australian writer Ruth Park. I have posted on their collaborative memoir, The drums go bang, and have written specifically about Ruth Park, but have never written specifically on Niland before. Niland is … Continue reading D’Arcy Niland, The parachutist (#Review)
Elizabeth von Arnim, Expiation (#BookReview #1929 Club)
I cannot remember when I last laughed out loud - a lot - when reading a book. The book that broke the drought is Elizabeth von Arnim's Expiation. Even in her darkest, grimmest novel, Vera (my review), Von Arnim managed to make me splutter several times, albeit ruefully. Expiation, though, caused no such qualms. I … Continue reading Elizabeth von Arnim, Expiation (#BookReview #1929 Club)
Frederic Manning, The middle parts of fortune, Ch. 1 (#Review, #1929 Club)
I had identified two novels for my 1929 read, M. Barnard Eldershaw's A house is built and another. With Lisa also considering A house is built, I decided to go for the other. I started it, and am loving it, but I won't finish it in time, so I thought I'd check my Australian anthologies … Continue reading Frederic Manning, The middle parts of fortune, Ch. 1 (#Review, #1929 Club)
Monday musings on Australian literature: 1929 in fiction
As many of you know by now, Karen (Kaggsy's Bookish Rambling) and Simon (Stuck in a Book) run "reading weeks" in which they nominate a year from which "everyone reads, enjoys, posts and shares wonderful books and discoveries from the year in question". The current year is 1929, and it runs from today, 24 October … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: 1929 in fiction
O. Henry, Conscience in art (#Review)
Followers of the short story form will probably know of O. Henry, the pen-name of American author William Sydney Porter (1862-1910). Although he also wrote poetry and non-fiction, Henry was best known for his prodigious short story writing. His legacy, as Wikipedia says, includes the O. Henry Award, which is an annual prize awarded to outstanding … Continue reading O. Henry, Conscience in art (#Review)
Ernest Hemingway, Cat in the rain (#Review)
As I often do with Library of America (LOA), I bookmarked their recent Story of the Week featuring Ernest Hemingway's short story "Cat in the rain" to read later. "Later" came today. I have no Hemingway on my blog, so this seemed a perfect opportunity, and I do like short stories anyhow. First ed. cover, from Wikipedia article. … Continue reading Ernest Hemingway, Cat in the rain (#Review)
