Australian classics: 50 great writers and their celebrated works
‘As a study and a celebration of some of Australian literature’s finest blooms, Australian Classics is excellent.’ Richard King, Sydney Morning Herald
‘Australian Classics is generously inclusive, written with flair, not bent on settling scores, but on reopening and reintroducing the rich and often eccentric body of our literature. It is an enterprise for which Gleeson-White ought to be commended.’ Peter Pierce, Canberra Times
‘It is in books like Australian Classics that our best hope lies for a healthy, productive Australian literature for many years into the future.’ Per Henningsgaard, Journal of the Association for the Study of Australian Literature
‘I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend this book to someone who wanted a crash course on Australian literature, but there’s also more to it than that … Australian Classics clearly has its uses not only for beginners but also for those who already know the field.’ Kerryn Goldsworthy, Weekend Australian
‘I hope I’m not alone in saying that a book of this ilk is long overdue … This is a very readable reference book and would make a great gift.’ Julia Jackson, Bookseller & Publisher
Reintroducing 50 works of Australian literature, Australian Classics is an accessible companion to our literature and a story of writing in Australia from the nineteenth century to the present. It celebrates many of the country's beloved novels, poems, short stories, children's books and seminal works of non-fiction. It also contains contributions from distinguished writers and readers on their favourite Australian books, including Helen Garner, Les Murray, Tim Winton, Anna Funder, James Bradley, Christos Tsiolkas and Charlotte Wood.
Australian Classics is an impassioned and inspiring feast of the great writing that makes exalted readers of us all and a testament to the wide-ranging and remarkable literature of this continent.
REVIEWS
As a study and a celebration of some of [Australian] literature’s finest blooms, Australian Classics is excellent. Richard King, Sydney Morning Herald
Australian Classics is generously inclusive, written with flair, not bent on settling scores, but on reopening and reintroducing the rich and often eccentric body of our literature. It is an enterprise for which Gleeson-White ought to be commended. Peter Pierce, The Canberra Times
I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend this book to someone who wanted a crash course in Australian literature, but there’s also more to it than that … Australian Classics has its uses not only for beginners but also for those who already know the field. Kerryn Goldsworthy, Weekend Australian
It is in books like Australian Classics that our best hope lies for a healthy, productive Australian literature for many years into the future. Per Henningsgaard, Journal of the Association for the Study of Australian Literature
I hope I’m not alone in saying that a book of this ilk is long overdue … This is a very readable reference book and would make a great gift. Julia Jackson, Bookseller and Publisher