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AbstractHistoryArchive Description
'As the early dragonflies of the Dry chase each other, Cressida catches one. She cannot feel the filaments, although she can see the opalescent legs and wing membranes, cannot feel the body vibrating in her palm, although she can see the whir of the wings as it tries to escape. She cannot feel a thing. Cannot feel the wings on the skin between her fingers as it attempts to escape. There is no escape, she tells it, and crushes it.
When Cressida discovers that she has the curse - leprosy - she is incarcerated on a remote and barren island. In tropical rains and blistering heat, far from home and family, the island's occupants confront appalling conditions and the constant threat of disfigurement and death. And, despite brewing racial tension, they are also redeemed by searing moments of compassion and understanding.'
(Source: GoodReads)
Affiliation Notes
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Writing Disability in Australia:
Type of disability Leprosy. Type of character Primary and secondary. Point of view Third person.
Publication Details of Only Known VersionEarliest 2 Known Versions of
Works about this Work
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'Don't Touch, Don't Leave' : Leprosy and Intimacy in Rowena Ivers' 'The Spotted Skin'
2005
single work
criticism
— Appears in: New Literatures Review , April no. 43 2005; (p. 37-51) In this essay, Luisa Percoco speculates 'on how notions of intimacy are negotiated and produced in Western and colonial discursive constructions of disease' (39). With regards to The Spotted Skin, she asks: 'How is identity, together with intimate perceptions of who we are, informed, and often distorted by strict racial and gender divisions? What constitutes a leprous body? How is it defined?' (39). -
On Loneliness and Exile
1999
single work
review
— Appears in: Antipodes , December vol. 13 no. 2 1999; (p. 125)
— Review of Hiam 1998 single work novel ; The Spotted Skin 1998 single work novel -
L-Plate Literati
1998
single work
review
— Appears in: The Australian's Review of Books , September vol. 3 no. 6 1998; (p. 26,30)
— Review of The Spotted Skin 1998 single work novel ; Mrs Feather and the Aesthetics of Survival 1998 single work novel ; Hiam 1998 single work novel ; Silences Long Gone 1998 single work novel -
Strong Women
1998
single work
review
— Appears in: Australian Book Review , August no. 203 1998; (p. 20-21)
— Review of The Spotted Skin 1998 single work novel ; Hiam 1998 single work novel -
A Skin of Tragedy
1998
single work
review
— Appears in: The Age , 19 September 1998; (p. 7)
— Review of The Spotted Skin 1998 single work novel ; Waiting for Matindi 1998 single work novel ; Shark Song 1998 single work novel
-
Intriguing Debuts
1998
single work
review
— Appears in: The Weekend Australian , 4-5 July 1998; (p. 11)
— Review of The Spotted Skin 1998 single work novel ; Hiam 1998 single work novel -
A Skin of Tragedy
1998
single work
review
— Appears in: The Age , 19 September 1998; (p. 7)
— Review of The Spotted Skin 1998 single work novel ; Waiting for Matindi 1998 single work novel ; Shark Song 1998 single work novel -
Strong Women
1998
single work
review
— Appears in: Australian Book Review , August no. 203 1998; (p. 20-21)
— Review of The Spotted Skin 1998 single work novel ; Hiam 1998 single work novel -
L-Plate Literati
1998
single work
review
— Appears in: The Australian's Review of Books , September vol. 3 no. 6 1998; (p. 26,30)
— Review of The Spotted Skin 1998 single work novel ; Mrs Feather and the Aesthetics of Survival 1998 single work novel ; Hiam 1998 single work novel ; Silences Long Gone 1998 single work novel -
On Loneliness and Exile
1999
single work
review
— Appears in: Antipodes , December vol. 13 no. 2 1999; (p. 125)
— Review of Hiam 1998 single work novel ; The Spotted Skin 1998 single work novel -
'Don't Touch, Don't Leave' : Leprosy and Intimacy in Rowena Ivers' 'The Spotted Skin'
2005
single work
criticism
— Appears in: New Literatures Review , April no. 43 2005; (p. 37-51) In this essay, Luisa Percoco speculates 'on how notions of intimacy are negotiated and produced in Western and colonial discursive constructions of disease' (39). With regards to The Spotted Skin, she asks: 'How is identity, together with intimate perceptions of who we are, informed, and often distorted by strict racial and gender divisions? What constitutes a leprous body? How is it defined?' (39).
Awards
- Northern Territory,
- 1940s