About the Author:
Gail Jones is the author of two short-story collections, a critical monograph, and the novels Black Mirror, Sixty Lights, Dreams of Speaking, and Sorry. Shortlisted three times for the Miles Franklin Award, her prizes include the WA Premier's Award for Fiction, the Nita B. Kibble Award, the Steele Rudd Award, the Age Book of the Year Award, the Adelaide Festival Award for Fiction and the ASAL Gold Medal. She has also been shortlisted for international awards, including the IMPAC and the Prix Femina. Her fiction has been translated into nine languages. Gail worked in the Department of English at the University of Western Australia. In 2001 she received the Australian Universities Teaching Award for Humanities and the Arts. Her academic interests are in narrative, cinema, cultural studies, contemporary literature, and Australian literature.
Review:
aThe resilient daughter of a doomed, loveless couple narrates the luminous third novel from Australian Jones (Sixty Lights). Perdita Keene recalls her childhood as the Australian-born daughter of a British anthropologist and his wife, who come to the outback in 1930 for Perdita's WWI-veteran father Nicholas's fieldwork. Perdita is unwanted, and her mother, Stella, withdraws. Nicholas forces himself sexually on the local Aboriginal women. Among his victims is an orphaned teenager, Mary, who is brought from the local convent to take care of Perdita when Stella is hospitalized. Mary and Perdita develop a close, sisterly relationship as Mary teaches Perdita indigenous wisdom that is a far cry from what Stella and her beloved Shakespeare impart. Nicholas's violence precipitates a tragedy, and the expiation of Perdita's long-held guilt, for her father's crimes among other things, edifies this beautifully composed work.
--"Publisheras Weekly" Starred Review (June)
aJonesas writing is fluid and memorable . . . the story proves powerful and poignant.a
a"The Guardian"
aJones has a marvelous ear for language . . . a novelist who deserves to be celebrated.a
a"The Telegraph"
aAn elegantly written lament for lost opportunities.a
a"The Financial Times"
aIn deft and vivid prose . . . Jonesas gift for conjuring place and mood rarely falters.a
a"Times Literary Supplement"
Jones s writing is fluid and memorable . . . the story proves powerful and poignant.
"The Guardian"
Jones has a marvelous ear for language . . . a novelist who deserves to be celebrated.
"The Telegraph"
An elegantly written lament for lost opportunities.
"The Financial Times"
In deft and vivid prose . . . Jones s gift for conjuring place and mood rarely falters.
"Times Literary Supplement"
?Jones's writing is fluid and memorable . . . the story proves powerful and poignant.?
?"The Guardian"
?Jones has a marvelous ear for language . . . a novelist who deserves to be celebrated.?
?"The Telegraph"
?An elegantly written lament for lost opportunities.?
?"The Financial Times"
?In deft and vivid prose . . . Jones's gift for conjuring place and mood rarely falters.?
?"Times Literary Supplement"
?The resilient daughter of a doomed, loveless couple narrates the luminous third novel from Australian Jones (Sixty Lights). Perdita Keene recalls her childhood as the Australian-born daughter of a British anthropologist and his wife, who come to the outback in 1930 for Perdita's WWI-veteran father Nicholas's fieldwork. Perdita is unwanted, and her mother, Stella, withdraws. Nicholas forces himself sexually on the local Aboriginal women. Among his victims is an orphaned teenager, Mary, who is brought from the local convent to take care of Perdita when Stella is hospitalized. Mary and Perdita develop a close, sisterly relationship as Mary teaches Perdita indigenous wisdom that is a far cry from what Stella and her beloved Shakespeare impart. Nicholas's violence precipitates a tragedy, and the expiation of Perdita's long-held guilt, for her father's crimes among other things, edifies this beautifully composed work.
--"Publisher's Weekly" Starred Review (June)
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