Downunder Authors

busterb · 09-24-2006, 11:39 AM

Any help in finding authors who write, wrote about the early days downunder? Someone like Wilbur Smith, who has written about Africa. I read some years ago and don't have a clue as to who wrote them.
Tnxs BB

Clodfobble · 09-24-2006, 12:48 PM

I read Robert Hughes' The Fatal Shore in high school, about the founding of Australia with colonies of convicts. Nonfiction, but it reads like a novel. It was good enough to keep; I still have it on the bookshelf.

wolf · 09-24-2006, 07:18 PM

The only Australian novel I can recall reading is Nevil Shute's "A Town Like Alice," which is realy about what happened to a group of English Women and Children who were taken prisoner by the Japanese. I saw the Masterpiece Theater teleplay and wanted to read the original story.

DucksNuts · 09-24-2006, 07:26 PM

Judy Nunn has written a few.... KAL for example.

Also, Bryce Courtenay

busterb · 09-26-2006, 12:49 PM

Thanks BB

SteveDallas · 09-26-2006, 01:03 PM

There are a couple Aussie sci-fi authors I like, but sounds like that's not what you're looking for!

busterb · 10-10-2006, 07:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Clodfobble

I read Robert Hughes' The Fatal Shore in high school, about the founding of Australia with colonies of convicts. Nonfiction, but it reads like a novel. It was good enough to keep; I still have it on the bookshelf.

Thanks. I picked it up at library today.

Aliantha · 10-10-2006, 07:53 PM

You could try Leviathan by John Birmingham. It's mostly about Sydney and its origins right up to modern times. An interesting read in my opinion and as it is a referenced biographical account, it falls under the genre of creative non-fiction which is what gives it the flavour of the city more than anything else.

JayMcGee · 10-10-2006, 08:32 PM

'creative non-fiction' ....... that's gotta rank with a 'terminalogical in-exactitude'

Aliantha · 10-12-2006, 12:33 AM

creative non-fiction is pretty much the genre for most biographical novels. The events in the story are fact, but the story is created by the authors imagination. Even Auto-biographies are creative non-fiction because when you write the story of your life, no one could possibly expect anyone to remember every conversation word for word etc. Hence, 'creative' non-fiction.

Trust me, it's an actual genre and very popular in this post modern era.

JayMcGee · 10-12-2006, 07:28 PM

mmmmm.....ok... I grudgingly accept the concept.... but, like TV 'drama-documetaries' I have reservations about not only the versimiltude of such creations, but also of the long-term affect upon an increasingly less-literate society... we are in grave danger of creating a whole new set of 'urban legends'...

'it must be right - it was in this book i red - i saw it in that docuentary i seed on the box ...'

Aliantha · 10-12-2006, 07:44 PM

Well that has to do with teaching people critical and independant thought. There are sections of society which have always had difficulty with that concept.

JayMcGee · 10-12-2006, 08:09 PM

mmmm...... which concept? crictical & independent thought? or the teaching of it......

Aliantha · 10-12-2006, 08:15 PM

Jay...I think the lack of teaching students this basic skill is a problem in the education system.

busterb · 10-12-2006, 08:52 PM

Read my lips. Downunder authors!

09-24-2006, 11:39 AM	#1
busterb NSABFD Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: MS. usa Posts: 3,908	Downunder Authors Any help in finding authors who write, wrote about the early days downunder? Someone like Wilbur Smith, who has written about Africa. I read some years ago and don't have a clue as to who wrote them. Tnxs BB __________________ I've haven't left very deep footprints in the sands of time. But, boy I've left a bunch.

09-24-2006, 07:18 PM	#3
wolf lobber of scimitars Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Phila Burbs Posts: 20,774	The only Australian novel I can recall reading is Nevil Shute's "A Town Like Alice," which is realy about what happened to a group of English Women and Children who were taken prisoner by the Japanese. I saw the Masterpiece Theater teleplay and wanted to read the original story. __________________ wolf eht htiw og "Conspiracies are the norm, not the exception." --G. Edward Griffin The Creature from Jekyll Island High Priestess of the Church of the Whale Penis

09-26-2006, 12:49 PM	#5
busterb NSABFD Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: MS. usa Posts: 3,908	Thanks BB __________________ I've haven't left very deep footprints in the sands of time. But, boy I've left a bunch.

10-10-2006, 07:53 PM	#8
Aliantha trying hard to be a better person Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Brisbane, Australia Posts: 16,493	You could try Leviathan by John Birmingham. It's mostly about Sydney and its origins right up to modern times. An interesting read in my opinion and as it is a referenced biographical account, it falls under the genre of creative non-fiction which is what gives it the flavour of the city more than anything else. __________________ Kind words are the music of the world. F. W. Faber

10-10-2006, 08:32 PM	#9
JayMcGee Cardigan-wearing man Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Much Binding In The Marsh Posts: 1,082	'creative non-fiction' ....... that's gotta rank with a 'terminalogical in-exactitude' __________________ I like wearing cardigans...... my current favourite is an orange cable-knit with real leatherette buttons.

09-24-2006, 12:48 PM	#2
Clodfobble UNDER CONDITIONAL MITIGATION Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 20,012	I read Robert Hughes' The Fatal Shore in high school, about the founding of Australia with colonies of convicts. Nonfiction, but it reads like a novel. It was good enough to keep; I still have it on the bookshelf.

09-24-2006, 07:26 PM	#4
DucksNuts Bitchy Little Brat Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Queensland, Australia Posts: 5,067	Judy Nunn has written a few.... KAL for example. Also, Bryce Courtenay

09-26-2006, 01:03 PM	#6
SteveDallas Your Bartender Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Philly Burbs, PA Posts: 7,651	There are a couple Aussie sci-fi authors I like, but sounds like that's not what you're looking for!

10-12-2006, 12:33 AM	#10
Aliantha trying hard to be a better person Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Brisbane, Australia Posts: 16,493	creative non-fiction is pretty much the genre for most biographical novels. The events in the story are fact, but the story is created by the authors imagination. Even Auto-biographies are creative non-fiction because when you write the story of your life, no one could possibly expect anyone to remember every conversation word for word etc. Hence, 'creative' non-fiction. Trust me, it's an actual genre and very popular in this post modern era. __________________ Kind words are the music of the world. F. W. Faber

10-12-2006, 07:28 PM	#11
JayMcGee Cardigan-wearing man Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Much Binding In The Marsh Posts: 1,082	mmmmm.....ok... I grudgingly accept the concept.... but, like TV 'drama-documetaries' I have reservations about not only the versimiltude of such creations, but also of the long-term affect upon an increasingly less-literate society... we are in grave danger of creating a whole new set of 'urban legends'... 'it must be right - it was in this book i red - i saw it in that docuentary i seed on the box ...' __________________ I like wearing cardigans...... my current favourite is an orange cable-knit with real leatherette buttons.

10-12-2006, 07:44 PM	#12
Aliantha trying hard to be a better person Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Brisbane, Australia Posts: 16,493	Well that has to do with teaching people critical and independant thought. There are sections of society which have always had difficulty with that concept. __________________ Kind words are the music of the world. F. W. Faber

10-12-2006, 08:09 PM	#13
JayMcGee Cardigan-wearing man Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Much Binding In The Marsh Posts: 1,082	mmmm...... which concept? crictical & independent thought? or the teaching of it...... __________________ I like wearing cardigans...... my current favourite is an orange cable-knit with real leatherette buttons.

10-12-2006, 08:15 PM	#14
Aliantha trying hard to be a better person Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Brisbane, Australia Posts: 16,493	Jay...I think the lack of teaching students this basic skill is a problem in the education system. __________________ Kind words are the music of the world. F. W. Faber

10-12-2006, 08:52 PM	#15
busterb NSABFD Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: MS. usa Posts: 3,908	Read my lips. Downunder authors! __________________ I've haven't left very deep footprints in the sands of time. But, boy I've left a bunch.

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