Many people believe that literature has a significant influence on the development of society. It has shaped nations, developed cultures, exposed injustices, and serves as the reflection of society.
Literature allows us to raise questions, explore our feelings and gives people a deeper understanding of different issues. It tells a story, takes us to other places and diverse perspectives through the author’s eyes.
Australia has a vast array of literature and books that have shaped the country. These books represent a cross-section of different genres, literature and history.
For the Term of His Natural Life
A story was written by Markus Clark, “For the Term of His Natural Life” was first published in the Australian Journal in the 1870s. It’s a story of an Australian penal settlement and published as a novel in 1874. The book follows Rufus Dawes’s life, who was taken to the penal colony at Macquarie for being wrongly convicted of a murder he never committed.
The story exposes the harsh and inhumane treatment of convicts and graphically describing the extreme conditions had to endure. An Australian TV mini-series adaptation of “For the Term of His Natural Life” was shown in 1983. This book has come to symbolise the Australian convict past.
Voss
Voss is a fictional chronicle of explorer Ludwig Leichardt expeditions to Australia. Patrick White wrote it, the only Australian awarded the Nobel Laureate in Literature in 1973. The story was set in Australia in the 19th century. The main characters Voss and Laura, had overwhelming and obsessive feelings for each other.
Voss embarked on a treacherous voyage across the continent and faced overwhelming hardships, betrayal and mutiny. Laura is waiting in Sydney as Voss’ attachment to Laura increases. He then disappears without a trace in the merciless desert.
My Brilliant Career
My Brilliant Career is a book written by Miles Franklin in 1901. Franklin is an Australian feminist and writer and was committed to developing a unique form of Australian literature.
My Brilliant Career tells Sybylla Melvyn’s story as she was developing into womanhood in New South Wales. Sybylla is a strong-minded young girl growing up in Australia in the early 20th century. Sybylla wanted to maintain her independence, so she rejected marriage to a wealthy young man. After publishing this novel, Franklin also wrote a sequel entitled: “My Career Goes Bung, ” published after a few decades later in 1946.
The Harp in the South
The Harp in the South is a novel written by Ruth Park, which was first published in 1948. The book has always been a favourite of Australians for the past half a century.
The novel is a nostalgic and moving portrayal of the Darcy’s who lived in a Plymouth Street in Sydney’s slums. Their father Hughie is an alcoholic, while their daughters Roie and Dolour are exposed to the realities of prostitution, gangs, nuns and racial tensions in their community.
Picnic at Hanging Rock
Picnic at Hanging Rock was written by Joan Lindsay and was first published in 1967. It tells the story of young ladies from Appleyard College who decided to have a picnic at Hanging rocks on Valentine’s day. The girls vanished, significantly affecting the school and the local community.
The unresolved ending has attracted much interpretation and analysis. The novel was adapted into a movie of the same name directed by Peter Weir.