"Australian fiction"
An exhibition of material from the Monash University
Library Rare Books Collection.
5 June - 29 September 2003
A selection of novels and books of short stories by over one hundred
writers, the exhibition covers our national output of fiction from 1845
to 2000. Included are such rarities as Ned Kelly, the ironclad
Australian bushranger, published in 1881, less than a year after his
execution; Henry Lawson's first book, Short stories in prose and verse
(1894); Melbourne and Mars (1889), an early example of Australian
science fiction; as well as Patrick White's first novel, The Happy
Valley, (1939) which he would not allow to be reprinted.
Reading fiction set in Australia from the early nineteenth-century to
the present is a way of understanding our pre-occupations and national
characteristics. It presents a rich field of study and research and is
also a still-affordable field for collecting.
The exhibition was opened by prominent Australian novelist,
Brian Castro.
View the
Exhibition Catalogue !
Virtual Exhibition ! |
Item 10. "Ned Kelly: the Iron Clad
Australian Bushranger / by One of his captors." by Borlase, James S.
(James Skipp) London : Alfred j. Isaacs & Sons, [1881?] |
