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AbstractHistoryArchive Description
'As the new Superintendent at Callan Park Psychiatric Hospital, Dr Peter Cyren must perform medical alchemy - turn diseased minds into healthy ones. But in the case of his own soul, this sacred process works irrevocably in reverse.'
Source: Publisher's blurb.
Notes
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Novel in verse form.
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Dedication: for Judith Beveridge
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Epigraph: What a piece of work is a man, how noble in reason, how infinite in faculties, in form and moving, how express and admirable in action, how like an angel in apprehension, how like a god. William Shakespeare, Hamlet
All the stages or processes of alchemy are distinguished by colours ... Latin alchemists nearly always commence with the nigredo, the dark, black stage of melancholy, death and mortification. Mark Haeffner, Dictionary of Alchemy
For it was clear to the more astute alchemists that the prima materia of the art was man himself. C.G.Jung, Mysterium Conjunctionis
Publication Details of Only Known VersionEarliest 2 Known Versions of
Other Formats
- Also sound recording.
Works about this Work
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Australian Poetry : Reflections on Nature, Space and Identity
2010
single work
criticism
— Appears in: Explorations In Australian Poetry 2010; (p. 1-40) Jayne Fenton Keane's essay presents an overview of the many treatments of nature rendered by a host of contemporary Australian poets. (v)
-
Interview with Dorothy Porter
Lesley Sly
(interviewer),
2000
single work
interview
— Appears in: Ulitarra , July no. 17/18 2000; (p. 65-77) -
[Review] What a Piece of Work
2000
single work
review
— Appears in: Sidewalk , July no. 6 2000; (p. 71-72) Cordite Poetry Review , June no. 8 2001;
— Review of What a Piece of Work 1999 single work novel -
No Camps or Movements : Recent Poetry
2000
single work
review
— Appears in: Westerly , November vol. 45 no. 2000; (p. 78-92)
— Review of What a Piece of Work 1999 single work novel ; The Scarring 1999 single work novel ; Every Night They Dance 2000 selected work poetry ; Jaywalking Blues : poems 1999 selected work poetry ; Around Here 1999 selected work poetry ; Surface Tension 1998 selected work poetry ; Dear B 1998 selected work poetry ; Republics : Poems 2000 selected work poetry ; Rogue Equations 2000 selected work poetry -
It's Too Hard To Write Good : I'd Rather Write Bad
2000
single work
prose
— Appears in: Australian Humanities Review , December 1999 - February no. 16 2000; Australian Humanities Review , March - April no. 17 2000; Dorothy Porter discusses her venture into writing for young adults.
-
[Review] What a Piece of Work
1999
single work
review
— Appears in: Screaming Hyena : E-Journal of Queer Writing and Review , August no. 17/18 1999;
— Review of What a Piece of Work 1999 single work novel -
Really Missing Modernism
1999
single work
review
— Appears in: Overland , Spring no. 156 1999; (p. 102-106)
— Review of All Lies and Jests 1999 selected work poetry short story ; What a Piece of Work 1999 single work novel ; Dedications 1999 selected work poetry ; Surface Tension 1998 selected work poetry ; Body-Flame : Poems 1998 selected work poetry ; Gone Bush with Horrie and Me 1998 selected work poetry ; Editing the Moon 1999 selected work poetry ; The Willing Eye : Poems 1999 selected work poetry ; The Genius of Human Imperfection 1998 selected work poetry ; Family Ties : Australian Poems of the Family 1998 anthology poetry ; August 6th 1999 selected work poetry ; Happy Accidents 1999 selected work poetry ; How Many Roads? : The Bob Dylan Theme Team 1998 selected work short story poetry -
[Review] The Hanging of Jean Lee [and] What a Piece of Work
1999
single work
review
— Appears in: Heat , no. 12 1999; (p. 245-252)
— Review of The Hanging of Jean Lee 1998 single work novel ; What a Piece of Work 1999 single work novel -
Gold Worth Digging For
1999
single work
review
— Appears in: The Sydney Morning Herald , 6 February 1999; (p. 9)
— Review of What a Piece of Work 1999 single work novel -
Rhythm of Life in Nasty Verse
1999
single work
review
— Appears in: The Courier-Mail , 13 February 1999; (p. 8)
— Review of What a Piece of Work 1999 single work novel -
Interview with Dorothy Porter
Lesley Sly
(interviewer),
2000
single work
interview
— Appears in: Ulitarra , July no. 17/18 2000; (p. 65-77) -
Australian Poetry : Reflections on Nature, Space and Identity
2010
single work
criticism
— Appears in: Explorations In Australian Poetry 2010; (p. 1-40) Jayne Fenton Keane's essay presents an overview of the many treatments of nature rendered by a host of contemporary Australian poets. (v)
-
Poetic Crusader
1999
single work
criticism
biography
— Appears in: The Weekend Australian , 23-24 January 1999; (p. 10) -
An Alchemist of the Human Spirit
1999
single work
criticism
— Appears in: The Canberra Times Sunday Times , 28 February 1999; (p. 18) -
The Poetry of Stardom
2000
single work
criticism
biography
— Appears in: The Weekend Australian , 27-28 May 2000; (p. 19)
Awards
- 2000 shortlisted Miles Franklin Literary Award
- Rozelle, Glebe - Leichhardt - Balmain area, Sydney Inner West, Sydney, New South Wales,
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New York (City),
New York (State),
cUnited States of America (USA),cAmericas,
- 1960s