Johnno: from the award-winning author of Remembering Babylon, Ransom
David Malouf's first novel recreates the war-conscious forties, the pubs and brothels of the fifties, and the years away treading water overseas. 'Despite Johnno's assertion that Brisbane was absolutely the ugliest place in the world, I had the feelings as I walked across deserted intersections, past empty parks with their tropical trees all spilked and sharp-edged in the early sunlight, that it might even be beautiful . . . ' Dante and Johnno are unlikely childhood friends, growing up in the bustle of steamy, wartime Brisbane. Later, as teenagers, they learn about love and life amidst the city's pubs and public libraries, backyards and brothels, Moreton Bay figs and tennis parties. As adults, they make the great pilgrimage overseas and maintain an uneasy friendship as they seek to build their lives. An affectionate and bittersweet portrait, Johnno brilliantly recreates the sleazy, tropical half-city that was Brisbane and captures a generation locked in combat with the elusive Australian dream. ----------------- 'Australia's finest writer' MIRIAM COSIC, THE AUSTRALIAN 'A jewel of a novel, perfect and modest' PETER CRAVEN, SUNDAY AGE 'Unique - what a book!' DAVID ROWBOTHAM, COURIER MAIL
David Malouf is internationally recognised as one of the world's finest and most versatile contemporary writers. Since his first collection of poetry in 1962, he has published novels, short stories, collections of poetry, opera libretti, a play and a volume of autobiography. His novels include An Imaginary Life, Harland's Half Acre, The Conversations at Curlaw Creek, The Great World, winner of the Commonwealth Writers Prize and the Prix Femina Etranger in 1991, and Remembering Babylon, shortlisted for the 1993 Booker Prize and winner of the inaugural international IMPAC Dublin Literary Award. Born and brought up in Brisbane, David Malouf lives in Sydney.
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David Malouf's first novel recreates the war-conscious forties, the pubs and brothels of the fifties, and the years away treading water overseas. 'Despite Johnno's assertion that Brisbane was absolutely the ugliest place in the world, I had the feelings as I walked across deserted intersections, past empty parks with their tropical trees all spilked and sharp-edged in the early sunlight, that it might even be beautiful . . . ' Dante and Johnno are unlikely childhood friends, growing up in the bustle of steamy, wartime Brisbane. Later, as teenagers, they learn about love and life amidst the city's pubs and public libraries, backyards and brothels, Moreton Bay figs and tennis parties. As adults, they make the great pilgrimage overseas and maintain an uneasy friendship as they seek to build their lives. An affectionate and bittersweet portrait, Johnno brilliantly recreates the sleazy, tropical half-city that was Brisbane and captures a generation locked in combat with the elusive Australian dream. ----------------- 'Australia's finest writer' MIRIAM COSIC, THE AUSTRALIAN 'A jewel of a novel, perfect and modest' PETER CRAVEN, SUNDAY AGE 'Unique - what a book!' DAVID ROWBOTHAM, COURIER MAIL
David Malouf is internationally recognised as one of the world's finest and most versatile contemporary writers. Since his first collection of poetry in 1962, he has published novels, short stories, collections of poetry, opera libretti, a play and a volume of autobiography. His novels include An Imaginary Life, Harland's Half Acre, The Conversations at Curlaw Creek, The Great World, winner of the Commonwealth Writers Prize and the Prix Femina Etranger in 1991, and Remembering Babylon, shortlisted for the 1993 Booker Prize and winner of the inaugural international IMPAC Dublin Literary Award. Born and brought up in Brisbane, David Malouf lives in Sydney.
