The novel is set in an unidentified Penal colony in the South Pacific, which bears a superficial resemblance to Sydney. The novel is concerned with the exploits of the colony's "felons" (a term which was not in general use at the time the novel is set, which Keneally explains his use of in a brief preface as being more appropriate than "convicts"), in particular an IrishMarine named Phelim Halloran.
Halloran joins the marines after leaving prison and finds he identifies more with the Irish prisoners than his mainly Protestant English superiors.[3]
Critical receptionedit
London-based Australian critic Robert Hughes stated in The Times: "Here is a rarity — an Australian novelist who does not use his Strine literary context as a prop or an excuse, and thus remains sensitive to his actual and physical environment... He is the first novelist to use Australia's colonial past intelligently, neither sentimentalising it as woozy bush-balladry nor turning it into an ersatz myth".[4]
Leonard Ward in The Canberra Times: "Thomas Keneally's writing style is smooth and economical of words with sometimes a curious lilt to them, even when he is dealing in brutality and tragedy. He is certainly one of the best Australian novelists today."[5]
Dedicationedit
"To Judith who nursed this poor herd of chapters to pasture."
Publishing historyedit
Following its original publication by Cassell in 1967 (reprinted in 1967 and 1968), the novel went through the following editions:
Belmont Books, New York, 1967
Sun Books, Melbourne, 1968 (reprinted 1972, 1974, 1976, 1978, 1984)
bring, larks, heroes, 1967, novel, australian, author, thomas, keneally, which, miles, franklin, award, 1967, first, editionauthorthomas, keneallycountryaustralialanguageenglishpublishercassell, australiapublication, date1967media, typeprint, hardback, paperba. Bring Larks and Heroes is a 1967 novel by Australian author Thomas Keneally 1 which won the Miles Franklin Award in 1967 2 Bring Larks and HeroesFirst editionAuthorThomas KeneallyCountryAustraliaLanguageEnglishPublisherCassell AustraliaPublication date1967Media typePrint Hardback amp Paperback Pages247 ppISBN0 7251 0060 5OCLC27549590Preceded byThe Fear Followed byThree Cheers for the Paraclete Contents 1 Plot summary 2 Critical reception 3 Dedication 4 Publishing history 5 References 6 See alsoPlot summary editThe novel is set in an unidentified Penal colony in the South Pacific which bears a superficial resemblance to Sydney The novel is concerned with the exploits of the colony s felons a term which was not in general use at the time the novel is set which Keneally explains his use of in a brief preface as being more appropriate than convicts in particular an Irish Marine named Phelim Halloran Halloran joins the marines after leaving prison and finds he identifies more with the Irish prisoners than his mainly Protestant English superiors 3 Critical reception editLondon based Australian critic Robert Hughes stated in The Times Here is a rarity an Australian novelist who does not use his Strine literary context as a prop or an excuse and thus remains sensitive to his actual and physical environment He is the first novelist to use Australia s colonial past intelligently neither sentimentalising it as woozy bush balladry nor turning it into an ersatz myth 4 Leonard Ward in The Canberra Times Thomas Keneally s writing style is smooth and economical of words with sometimes a curious lilt to them even when he is dealing in brutality and tragedy He is certainly one of the best Australian novelists today 5 Dedication edit To Judith who nursed this poor herd of chapters to pasture Publishing history editFollowing its original publication by Cassell in 1967 reprinted in 1967 and 1968 the novel went through the following editions Belmont Books New York 1967 Sun Books Melbourne 1968 reprinted 1972 1974 1976 1978 1984 Viking New York 1968 Quartet London 1973 Penguin Victoria 1988 Text Publishing Text Classics Victoria 2012 6 References edit Austlit Bring Larks and Heroes by Thomas Keneally Novel Award The Canberra Times 3 April 1968 p3 Musings of a Literary Dilettante Praise in UK for Keneally The Canberra Times 27 February 1968 p15 Keneally s strong character building The Canberra Times 18 November 1967 p10 Text Publishing Bring Larks and Heroes by Thomas KeneallySee also edit1967 in Australian literature Middlemiss orgAwards and achievementsPreceded byTrap Miles Franklin Award recipient1967 Succeeded byThree Cheers for the Paraclete Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Bring Larks and Heroes amp oldid 1165098222, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
