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AbstractHistoryArchive Description
'Set in Malaysia, Indonesia and Australia, Snake is the first novel that Dewi Anggraeni has written about the Chinese descent communities in Southeast Asia. Their stories, woven into the tapestry of the mainstream Malay societies of Malaysia and Indonesia, have not only contributed to the respective society and national culture. They have also moulded the Southeast Asian overseas Chinese into a fascinating society in their own right. In common with Dewi's earlier novels, Snake presents us with an intangible, even mysterious, part of Southeast Asian life. While effective curses, and the power inanimate objects can have over people -- power for good or power for evil -- are generally considered in Australia to be fantasy, they are very much a part of life in Southeast Asia. In 'Snake', a brooch worn as a clasp for the traditional blouse, the kebaya, has power over its owner. Featuring Serena, a choreographer and lead dancer, this is the story of a family split by honour and pride, a family under the curse of a beautiful brooch. The brooch, named peniti ronce by its first owner, initially fascinates, and then destroys, its owner.' (Publication summary)
Notes
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Dedication: For Trisna, principal muse for this work, and Arti, principal whisperer for this production.
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Epigraph: 'Our wills and fate do so contrary run. that our devices still are overthrown.' Shakespeare - Hamlet Act iii Scene 2
Affiliation Notes
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This work is affiliated with the AustLit subset Asian-Australian Children's Literature and Publishing because it has been recommended as a resource for Asia Literacy for secondary students by the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development, Victoria. It is also set in Asia.
Publication Details of Only Known VersionEarliest 2 Known Versions of
Works about this Work
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[Review] Snake
2003
single work
review
— Appears in: The Asian Review of Books 2003;
— Review of Snake 2002 single work novel -
Novel Reading
2003
single work
review
— Appears in: Overland , Summer no. 173 2003; (p. 104-106)
— Review of Academia Nuts 2002 single work novel ; Ocean 2002 single work novel ; Confessing a Murder 2002 single work novel ; Snake 2002 single work novel -
Paperbacks
2003
single work
review
— Appears in: Canberra Sunday Times , 4 May 2003; (p. 18)
— Review of Snake 2002 single work novel -
Other Voices
2003
single work
review
— Appears in: The Weekend Australian , 26-27 April 2003; (p. 8)
— Review of Snake 2002 single work novel ; Warra Warra : A Ghost Story 2003 single work novel ; The Blind Eye 2001 single work novel ; Man Bites Dog 2003 single work novel -
[Review] Snake
2003
single work
review
— Appears in: The Age , 29 March 2003; (p. 6)
— Review of Snake 2002 single work novel
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[Review] Snake
2003
single work
review
— Appears in: The Age , 29 March 2003; (p. 6)
— Review of Snake 2002 single work novel -
Other Voices
2003
single work
review
— Appears in: The Weekend Australian , 26-27 April 2003; (p. 8)
— Review of Snake 2002 single work novel ; Warra Warra : A Ghost Story 2003 single work novel ; The Blind Eye 2001 single work novel ; Man Bites Dog 2003 single work novel -
Paperbacks
2003
single work
review
— Appears in: Canberra Sunday Times , 4 May 2003; (p. 18)
— Review of Snake 2002 single work novel -
Novel Reading
2003
single work
review
— Appears in: Overland , Summer no. 173 2003; (p. 104-106)
— Review of Academia Nuts 2002 single work novel ; Ocean 2002 single work novel ; Confessing a Murder 2002 single work novel ; Snake 2002 single work novel -
[Review] Snake
2003
single work
review
— Appears in: The Asian Review of Books 2003;
— Review of Snake 2002 single work novel
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cMalaysia,cSoutheast Asia, South and East Asia, Asia,
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cIndonesia,cSoutheast Asia, South and East Asia, Asia,
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cAustralia,c