carrom

Any reccommendations for books set in Tasmania or by Tasmanian authors? I have already read The Fatal Shore and enjoyed it. Thanks. Happy New Year!

longhorn55

"For the Term of His Natural Life" by Marcus Clarke deals with Port Arthur and the penal system in Tasmania. It was written in the 1870's, so you might find the prose a bit difficult/stilted, but it gives some insight to that period of Australian history.

DownUnder

Nicholas Shakespeare is an acclaimed British author who now lives in Tasmania. His book "In Tasmania" is worth a read as it traces 200 years of Tasmanian history. His recent novel "Secrets of the Sea" is also set in Tasmania. Christopher Koch is a Tasmanian author and his book "Out of Ireland" is historical and set in Tasmania and also worth a read.They should all be available on Amazon

Susan7

Richard Flanagan is another Tasmania writer:

http://www.the-write-stuff.com.au/ar.../flanagan.html

In terms of "Tasmanian gothic" see if you can see the work of Tasmanian photographer Pat Brassington.

Treepol

Hi Carrom,

here are a few more ideas from my bookshelf:

Smith, Patsy Adam - Tiger country

Smith, Patsy Adam - There was a ship

Wood, Danielle - The Alphabet of light and dark
(novel with Bruny Island setting)

Gemmell, Nikki - Shiver
(novel with Hobart and Antarctica setting)

Pybus, Cassandra - Community of thieves
(about the dissolution of the Bruny Island Tasmanian aboriginal community)

Shaw, Patricia - Storm Bay

Courtenay, Bryce - The Potato factory

Courtenay, Bryce - Tommo & Hawk

Mattingley, Christobel - King of the wilderness
(Biography of Denny King, who lived at remote Melaleuca for most of his life)

Butler, Richard - The Men that God forgot
(Convicts on the west coast)

Alexander, Alison - Governor's ladies
(Wives of the early governors)

Blainey, Geoffrey - The Peaks of Lyell
(History of the Mt Lyell and the settlement of the remote west coast)

I second anything by Christopher Koch and Richard Flanagan)

There are numerous titles available on Tasmanian history, railways and shipping and contemporary works on Tasmania's wilderness. Is there anything in a particular subject area that you are interested in as I might be able to suggest more relevant books?

Here is a link to many other Tasmanian novels, http://catalogue.statelibrary.tas.go...&sort=date

Some of these might be hard to find, however, you could try here

www.astrolabebooks.com.au

or

http://www.igougo.com/attractions-re...Book_Shop.html



Happy reading,



Pol

carrom

Wow! I have already gone ahead and ordered several of these. They should keep me busy for a while. Thanks a lot!

Neil_Oz

I strongly recommend C. J. (Christopher) Koch's "Out of Ireland". At his best Koch is a masterful writer with a great ability to convey a sense of place and time.

Unlike "The Year of Living Dangerously" and some of his other works, this novel is largely set in Tasmania and is based loosely on the story of some prominent Irish rebels of the Young Ireland movement who were transported to Van Diemen's Land. I discovered later that the real story was no less bizarre than Koch's fictional treatment.

carrom

I am just starting on Out of Ireland. Greatly enjoyed "For the Term of His Natural Life" . Thank-you longhorn

Carrabella

Treepol, do you remember a childrens' book set in Tasie, called "The Wire"? It's about a family living in the south west, and the wire is the only access to their property, and the possibility of Tasmanian tigers surviving there. I read it to my kids years ago (they were born in Tasie) but can't remember the author. I couldn't find it under your library site unfortunately.

LizzyF

I wonder if your memory is playing tricks and it was " The Season of the Briar" which rhymes with wire, if nothing else.

Here are some others anyway:

NORTH-WEST BY SOUTH which is a novel by CATO, Nancy

Season of the Briar
BRINSMEAD, H.F.
Set in the wilds of South-West Tasmania during a working holiday.


Just a thought.

carrom

I'm surprised nobody's mentioned The English Passenger by Mathew Kneale. A large part is set in Tasmania. I read that a while back and liked it a lot.

Treepol

Carrabella,

sorry, I don't remember the Wire. However, I've asked around and Lizzy's suggestion may be the title you are looking for.

Carrom,

<i>Wainewright the poisoner</i> by Andrew Motion is another book related to Tasmania's convict history you might also enjoy.

Cheers,


Pol

caligirl56

Try &quot;Gould's Book of Fish&quot; by Richard Flanagan. Very colorful imagery. This book touches your emotions on many levels. Very creative.

Carrabella

Thanks, Treepol and Lizzy - it could well be my memory playing tricks, though &quot;Season of the Briar&quot; doesn't ring any bells. Will look it up though.
Treepol, I met Denny King's daughter in 1967, when she gave a &quot;slide &quot; night and talk to our small garden club in Georgetown, with her memories of growing up in Melaleuca - what an amazing family!