Kate Llewellyn

Having read 'The Fig at the Gate' twice, I thought I would really enjoy this autobiography of Kate Llewellyn. Rather I found it excruciating especially reading of her marriage and divorce.

The earlier chapters which were much shorter than the later ones tended to be, were interesting but rather bitty as I think might be a tendency when one is writing of times past.

The later chapters use long quotations from her diaries and are rather boring - maybe this was intentional ?

I wanted to like Kate because 'The Fig at the Gate' reveals an interesting person and gardener. In the end I felt particularly sorry for her son Hugh whose presence is marked by a photo in the album section at the end of the book. Otherwise he seems to be written out of the story... Maybe this piece on p.157 of the e-book is key to this:

'I have had my fill of princes. Unreliable to a man, they have caused my children and me grief and I have squandered time that could have been used better.'

The Dressmaker's Daughter covers Kate Llewellyn's life up to her move to Sydney from Adelaide. Maybe there will be a sequel which will round out the picture a little.… (meer)

A selection of letters written by poet and author, Kate Llewellyn in her mid career. The letters tell of the struggle the make a living as a writer, and show her to be a warm, funny, brave and vulnerable person. Well worth reading for insights into her, into the life of writers, and into her views on other Aussie writers. For my full review, please see Whispering Gums: rel="nofollow" target="_top">http://whisperinggums.com/2015/06/20/bacchus-ruth-hill-barbara-first-things-firs...… (meer)

A distinguished Australian poet, Kate Llewellyn has published six books of poetry and is the co-editor of The Penguin Book of Australian Women Poets. She is the author of nineteen books, including Lilies, Feathers & Frangipani on the Cook Islands and New Zealand; Angels and Dark Madonnas on India and Italy; and Gorillas, Tea & Coffee: An African Sketchbook.

A Fig at the Gate is written in the tradition of her bestseller titles The Waterlily: A Blue Mountains Journal and Playing With Water: A Story of a Garden. Now in her seventies, Kate has settled in Adelaide near where she was born and is establishing a new garden to nourish, sustain and delight.

Journal entries chart the evolution of Kate's garden over three years, the planting of plum trees and cabbages, of wisteria, cumquats and rosemary, along with the addition of chickens and ducks.
Kate also shares her musings and learned wisdom on life, aging, family and friendship, her prose interspersed with her poetry.

A Fig at the Gate is warm, gracious and wise chronicle of nature, beauty and life.… (meer)