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Bezig met laden... We of the Never-Never (1982)door Mrs. Aeneas Gunn
Bezig met laden...
Meld je aan bij LibraryThing om erachter te komen of je dit boek goed zult vinden. Op dit moment geen Discussie gesprekken over dit boek. A revealing book about life on an early Australian cattle station. It's a little confusing at first with the author's referring to places as if they are people and the multitude of nicknames she gives to those who accompany her into the bush, but easier once you get into it. The author paints some beautiful and poignant pictures of life in the Australian bush. Most moving to me was the description of the postman's determined and dangerous journey along his mail route to the inside. Six times a year he would risk his life to deliver email to remote stations. This book is however a product of its time. It's disheartening that the author so often places men on pedestals while denigrating her fellow women, and there is some fairly racist content. The author is actually surprised to discover that Chinese men can feel compassion, for instance, and the aboriginals are constantly described as childlike and credulous. As unappealing as this content is, however, I think it is valuable to anyone seeking an honest picture of early Australia, as it starkly demonstrates the attitude of the white colonists towards the aboriginals and Chinese fellow colonists. A feel-good recount of a year in the Australian outbush in 1902, it romanticises the tough bush life with its beautiful imagery of the landscape and the optimistic promises of a new home. There's a distinct sly, dry humour underlying the novel where everybody walks around with a twinkle in their eye.The life is painted as one that is almost impossibly perfect and full of humorous, good-hearted people who survive and thrive in an isolation where mail only comes every six weeks. Then this mirage is given a dose of reality with period racism and slurs or with a recount of the fate of the previous postman. Even though current tastes have moved towards more realistic portrayals of the outback, I can't begrudge Jeannie Gunn her charmed and charming year knowing its sad demise. Aside: Fizzer needs to write his own book. Update: a fascinating article that contextualises the book. geen besprekingen | voeg een bespreking toe
Is opgenomen inErelijsten
In 1902, newly-married Jeannie Gunn (Mrs Aeneas Gunn) left the security and comfort of her Melbourne home to travel to the depths of the Northern Territory, where her husband had been appointed manager of 'The Elsey', a large cattle station. One of the very few white women in the area, she was at first resented by people on and around the station, till her warmth and spirit won their affection and respect. This is her moving and simple account of her life amidst the beauty and cruelty of the land, and the isolation and loneliness. With introduction by Bud Tingwell. Geen bibliotheekbeschrijvingen gevonden. |
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Google Books — Bezig met laden... GenresDewey Decimale Classificatie (DDC)994.29041092History and Geography Oceania and elsewhere Australia South Australia, Northern Territory Northern TerritoryLC-classificatieWaarderingGemiddelde:
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Of course, it's easy (and fair) to grimace at Gunn's portrayal of non-white people, not to mention her own less-than-progressive views on her role as a woman. But the lady was born in 1870, and she was content to be a pioneer in her on ways without getting enveloped in the still cloudy issue of feminism. As with many books of this kind, we can't necessarily blame Gunn for all of her stereotyping, we can simply ensure that we read with a critical eye, and treat this book as an important historical and literary piece - especially in terms of what it tells us about the role of women and the approach to the outback. ( )