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"The demon-centered culture of remote hill tribes in New Guinea is the background for much of this exotic novel, the first to be published in the U.S. by Australian playwright Nowra. As he traces the development of Palu, a girl from the highlands who breaks her tribal taboos, into a woman who influences the development of her country as an independent nation, Nowra also develops parallel themes of black/white relationships in the clash of ancient and modern worlds. Palu's precocious sexuality flowers first under the tutelage of an elderly white coffee planter exiled from Australia, who introduces her to Western ways. Later, preparing to become a teacher, Palu meets her soul mate, Emo, a brilliant youth who becomes president of the island on a platform of humanistic ideals, but eventually becomes a despot, corrupted by Australian mentors. Palu's passionate nature, imbued with dark impulses and supported by spiritual alliances with creatures from the underworld, centers this novel in a vibrant framework of decline and death."
Source: Publishers Weekly
Notes
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Dedication: To Veronica Kelly
Publication Details of Only Known VersionEarliest 2 Known Versions of
Works about this Work
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Showdown at Stewart's
2005
single work
correspondence
— Appears in: The Age , 19 August 2005; (p. 12) -
Why I 'Clocked' Dinny O'Hearn
2005
single work
correspondence
— Appears in: The Age , 17 August 2005; (p. 18) -
Perspectives of Contemporary Australian Literature on Culture-Clash Between Australian and the Asia/Pacific Region
1993
single work
criticism
— Appears in: Australian Literature Today 1993; (p. 9-39) -
"Speaking the Formula of Abjection" : Hybrids and Gothic Discourses in Louis Nowra's Novels
1991
single work
criticism
— Appears in: Westerly , September vol. 36 no. 3 1991; (p. 61-72) Peripheral Fear : Transformations of the Gothic in Canadian and Australian Fiction 2009; (p. 165-180) -
Defiant Visions from the Outer
1990
single work
criticism
biography
— Appears in: The Canberra Times , 14 October 1990; (p. 28)
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Dark and Primal
1987
single work
review
— Appears in: The Adelaide Review , October no. 43 1987; (p. 27)
— Review of Palu 1987 single work novel -
Lurid Witchcraft, Sex and Politics
1987
single work
review
— Appears in: The Weekend Australian Magazine , 8-9 August 1987;
— Review of Palu 1987 single work novel -
Primitive Culture Overland
1987
single work
review
— Appears in: The Age , 5 September 1987;
— Review of Palu 1987 single work novel -
[Review] Palu
1987
single work
review
— Appears in: Antithesis , vol. 1 no. 2 1987; (p. 108-110)
— Review of Palu 1987 single work novel -
From Tribal Waif to Old Man's Lover - and Revenge
1987
single work
review
— Appears in: The Sydney Morning Herald , 22 August 1987; (p. 48)
— Review of Palu 1987 single work novel -
'Perfecting the Monologue of Silence' : An Interview with Louis Nowra
Gerry Turcotte
(interviewer),
1987
single work
interview
— Appears in: Kunapipi , vol. 9 no. 3 1987; (p. 51-67) The AustLit Anthology of Criticism 2010; (p. 48) -
Why I 'Clocked' Dinny O'Hearn
2005
single work
correspondence
— Appears in: The Age , 17 August 2005; (p. 18) -
Showdown at Stewart's
2005
single work
correspondence
— Appears in: The Age , 19 August 2005; (p. 12) -
"Speaking the Formula of Abjection" : Hybrids and Gothic Discourses in Louis Nowra's Novels
1991
single work
criticism
— Appears in: Westerly , September vol. 36 no. 3 1991; (p. 61-72) Peripheral Fear : Transformations of the Gothic in Canadian and Australian Fiction 2009; (p. 165-180) -
Nowra On Another Winner
1988
single work
criticism
— Appears in: The Canberra Times , 29 June 1988; (p. 30)
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cPapua New Guinea,cPacific Region,
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cAustralia,c