A Companion to Australian Literature Since 1900Nicholas Birns, Rebecca McNeer Australian literature is one of the world's richest, dealing not only with "local" Australian themes and issues but with those at the forefront of global literary discussion. This book offers a fresh look at Australian literature, taking a broad view of what literature is and viewing it with Australian cultural and societal concerns in mind. Especially relevant is the heightened role of indigenous people and issues following the landmark 1992 Mabo decision on Aboriginal land rights. But attention to other multicultural connections and the competing pull of Australia's continued connection to Great Britain are also enlightening. Chapters are devoted to internationally prominent writers such as Patrick White, Peter Carey, David Malouf, and Christina Stead, fast-rising authors such as Gerald Murnane and Tim Winton, and less-publicized yet crucially important writers such as Xavier Herbert and Dorothy Hewett. There are chapters on prose fiction, poetry, and drama, women's and gay and lesbian writing, children's literature, and science fiction. The Companion goes beyond Eurocentric ideas of national literary history to reveal the full, resplendent variety of Australian writing. Nicholas Birns teaches literature at the New School in New York City and is the editor of Antipodes. Rebecca McNeer is Associate Dean at Ohio Southern University. |
Contents
Aboriginality since Mabo Writing Politics and Art | 17 |
Writing Aboriginality Authors on Being Aboriginal | 41 |
From Empire to Nation The Shifting Sands of | 61 |
Multicultural Writing in Australia | 73 |
Jewish Writers in Australia | 87 |
AsianAustralian Literature | 105 |
The Demidenko Affair and Australian Hoaxes | 127 |
Australian Womens Writing from 1970 to 2005 | 139 |
Les Murray | 269 |
Peter Carey | 281 |
Gerald Murnane | 293 |
Tim Winton and West Australian Writing | 307 |
Dorothy Hewett | 321 |
Xavier Herbert | 335 |
Michael Wilding Murray Bail Rodney Hall | 345 |
TransTasman Literary Expatriates | 359 |
Writing the Nation 19001940 | 157 |
Australian Poetry from Kenneth Slessor to Jennifer Strauss | 173 |
Australian Poetry 19702005 | 191 |
Australian Drama 19001970 | 207 |
Australian Drama since 1970 | 219 |
Christina Stead | 235 |
Patrick White | 247 |
David Malouf | 257 |
Australian Science Fiction | 375 |
Popular Australian Writing | 387 |
Australian Film | 403 |
Australian Childrens Literature | 417 |
Environmental Themes in Australian Literature | 429 |
Australian Gay and Lesbian Writing | 445 |
Notes on the Contributors | 459 |
Other editions - View all
A Companion to Australian Literature Since 1900 Nicholas Birns,Rebecca McNeer No preview available - 2010 |
A Companion to Australian Literature Since 1900 Nicholas Birns,Rebecca McNeer No preview available - 2007 |
Common terms and phrases
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