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'A child is imprisoned in a house by her reclusive religious parents. Hester has never seen the outside world; her companions are Cat, Spoon, Door, Handle, Broom, and they all speak to her. Her imagination is informed by one book, an illustrated child's bible, and its imagery forms the sole basis for her capacity to make poetic connection.
'One day Hester takes a brave Alice in Wonderland trip into the forbidden outside (at the behest of Handle - 'turn me turn me'), and this overwhelming encounter with light and sky and sunshine is a marvel to her. From this moment on, Hester learns the concept of the secret, and not telling, and the world becomes something that fills her with feeling as if she is a vessel, empty and bottomless for need of it.' (Publisher's blurb)
Notes
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Epigraph: There is a lion in the way: a lion in the streets. Proverbs xxvi 13
Publication Details of Only Known VersionEarliest 2 Known Versions of
Works about this Work
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The Silver Age of Fiction
2011
single work
criticism
— Appears in: Meanjin , Summer vol. 70 no. 4 2011; (p. 110-115)‘In human reckoning, Golden Ages are always already in the past. The Greek poet Hesiod, in Works and Days, posited Five Ages of Mankind: Golden, Silver, Bronze, Heroic and Iron (Ovid made do with four). Writing in the Romantic period, Thomas Love Peacock (author of such now almost forgotten novels as Nightmare Abbey, 1818) defined The Four Ages of Poetry (1820) in which their order was Iron, Gold, Silver and Bronze. To the Golden Age, in their archaic greatness, belonged Homer and Aeschylus. The Silver Age, following it, was less original, but nevertheless 'the age of civilised life'. The main issue of Peacock's thesis was the famous response that he elicited from his friend Shelley - Defence of Poetry (1821).’ (Publication abstract)
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Cheery Author's Bloody Tale of Revenge
2009
single work
column
— Appears in: The Weekend Australian , 19-20 September 2009; (p. 3) -
This Year's Work in Fiction 2008-2009
2009
single work
review
— Appears in: Westerly , July vol. 54 no. 1 2009; (p. 51-64)
— Review of The Pages 2008 single work novel ; The Lieutenant 2008 single work novel ; The Spare Room 2008 single work novel ; The Anatomy of Wings 2006 single work novel ; Boy On A Wire 2009 single work novel ; The Sinkings 2008 single work novel ; Bird 2008 single work novel ; One Foot Wrong 2008 single work novel ; Avenue of Eternal Peace 1989 single work novel ; Life in Seven Mistakes 2008 single work novel ; The Steele Diaries 2008 single work novel ; Butterfly 2009 single work novel ; Dissection 2007 single work novel ; Fugitive Blue 2008 single work novel ; Sweet 2008 single work novel ; The Virtuoso 2009 single work novel ; Ransom 2009 single work novel ; The Good Parents 2008 single work novel ; Vertigo : A Pastoral 2008 single work novella ; The Boat 2008 selected work short story ; New Australian Stories 2009 anthology short story ; The Slap 2008 single work novel -
Prisoners of Consciousness
2008
single work
review
— Appears in: The Australian Literary Review , September vol. 3 no. 8 2008; (p. 22)
— Review of One Foot Wrong 2008 single work novel -
A Versatile Performer
2008
single work
column
— Appears in: The Sydney Morning Herald , 23-24 August 2008; (p. 26027)
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[Review] One Foot Wrong
2008
single work
review
— Appears in: Bookseller + Publisher Magazine , June vol. 87 no. 9 2008; (p. 51)
— Review of One Foot Wrong 2008 single work novel -
In Short : Fiction
2008
single work
review
— Appears in: The Sydney Morning Herald , 19-20 July 2008; (p. 34)
— Review of One Foot Wrong 2008 single work novel -
Dark Journey Worth Taking
2008
single work
review
— Appears in: The Canberra Times , 26 July 2008; (p. 12)
— Review of One Foot Wrong 2008 single work novel -
Treading Skilfully through a Child's Horrors
2008
single work
review
— Appears in: The Age , 26 July 2008; (p. 23)
— Review of One Foot Wrong 2008 single work novel -
Prisoners of Consciousness
2008
single work
review
— Appears in: The Australian Literary Review , September vol. 3 no. 8 2008; (p. 22)
— Review of One Foot Wrong 2008 single work novel -
A Versatile Performer
2008
single work
column
— Appears in: The Sydney Morning Herald , 23-24 August 2008; (p. 26027) -
Cheery Author's Bloody Tale of Revenge
2009
single work
column
— Appears in: The Weekend Australian , 19-20 September 2009; (p. 3) -
The Silver Age of Fiction
2011
single work
criticism
— Appears in: Meanjin , Summer vol. 70 no. 4 2011; (p. 110-115)‘In human reckoning, Golden Ages are always already in the past. The Greek poet Hesiod, in Works and Days, posited Five Ages of Mankind: Golden, Silver, Bronze, Heroic and Iron (Ovid made do with four). Writing in the Romantic period, Thomas Love Peacock (author of such now almost forgotten novels as Nightmare Abbey, 1818) defined The Four Ages of Poetry (1820) in which their order was Iron, Gold, Silver and Bronze. To the Golden Age, in their archaic greatness, belonged Homer and Aeschylus. The Silver Age, following it, was less original, but nevertheless 'the age of civilised life'. The main issue of Peacock's thesis was the famous response that he elicited from his friend Shelley - Defence of Poetry (1821).’ (Publication abstract)
Awards
- 2009 shortlisted Prime Minister's Literary Awards — Fiction
- 2009 longlisted Miles Franklin Literary Award