Dallas Public Library

Australian gay and lesbian writing, an anthology, edited by Robert Dessaix

eng

Includes bibliographical references (p. 380-381) and index

index present

non fiction

Australian gay and lesbian writing

bibliography

edited by Robert Dessaix

an anthology

In this landmark collection of Australian writing spanning well over a century, an Australia emerges that is radically different from the cliched land of bronzed lifesavers and long-suffering sheepfarmers' wives. Robert Dessaix's anthology reflects the diversity, non-conformity and ambiguity that have always been features of Australian society. Remarkably, it confirms that few of the country's most celebrated writers, regardless of their sexuality, have not, at one time or another, written on homosexual themes. Patrick White, David Malouf, Elizabeth Jolley, Frank Moorhouse and Helen Garner are all included, along with a number of newer writers. This rare openness to the illicit and the subversive is just one of the revelations in an entertaining and provocative volume. Through the fiction, poetry and drama of over forty writers, the collection traces the flowering of a rich variety of homosexual sensibilities from colonial times to the present. In a long introductory overview of the literature, Robert Dessaix suggests a number of stimulating readings, and states that his primary consideration is always pleasure for the reader. Erotic, raffish, refined, romantic, rebellious and always perverse, this anthology celebrates the adventurousness and sophistication of Australian writing in ways that cast an exciting new light on Australian cultural history

A convict's letter 1846 / Anonymous -- Rouge et noir / John Le Gay Brereton -- I can't feel the sunshine. Lie-a-bed / Lesbia Harford -- Elegy for a bachelor uncle / Thomas Shapcott -- Ganymede / Gwen Harwood -- Hamid / Javant Biarujia -- from Surly girls / Susan Hampton -- Young men's bodies / Thomas Shapcott -- from All that false instruction / Elizabeth Riley -- Graffiti / Jenny Pausacker -- Dawn. The El Paso Restaurant / Rae Desmond Jones -- Aviator. Obscure figure / Peter Rose -- Passion at Byron Bay. Monster in the park. Dialogue / Tony Page -- Satires / David Herkt -- from Working hot / Mary Fallon -- from Save me from the shark / Donald Friend -- Two hanged women. The wrong turning / Henry Handel Richardson -- Sauce / Dorothy Porter -- from Peter / Kate Walker -- from Miss Peabody's inheritance / Elizabeth Jolley -- from Fairyland / Sumner Locke Elliott -- Night training / David Malouf -- from The comfort of men / Dennis Altman -- The everlasting secret family / Frank Moorhouse(cont.) The new temple. Just to talk. My sleeping brother. All touch. Lies and tin. Little brother. Smenkhkare's wedding / Dorothy Porter -- from The young desire it / Kenneth 'Seaforth' Mackenzie -- Athlete / Don Maynard -- The dream / Hal Porter -- from Remember the tarantella / Finola Moorhead -- from Distractions / Benedict Ciantar -- from The elocution of Benjamin Franklin / Steve J. Spears -- from The Twyborn affair / Patrick White -- from The beat / Simon Payne -- La chance existe / Helen Garner -- Requiem / Sasha Soldatow(cont.) Pumpkin Max / Tim Herbert -- Unholding here. Dark destroyer. Stars. Hearing you read the poems. Poem / David Malouf -- from Zimmer's essay / Robert Adamson and Bruce Hanford -- Poem for our fifth year / Bev Roberts -- from Is that you Nancy? / Sandra Shotlander -- from JF was here / Nigel Krauth -- Is this how whales? Assignation / Michael Dransfield -- A game of Go / Nicholas Jose -- Memoirs of a velvet urinal / Michael Dransfield -- Difficult letter. Hotel room revisited / David Malouf -- Memorabilia / Peter Rose -- Lace / Susan Hampton -- from Alone / Beverley Farmer -- Arachne / Val Vallis