AustLit

'Discussions of literature and society often prove inconclusive. Though any work of literature obviously has a relationship to the society within which it was created the nature of his relationship cannot be stated in precise terms. Furthermore, the terms which may apply to one work will prove inappropriate to other works deriving from the same society. For the range of literature is such that it always provides exceptions to any rigid proposition about its social meaning.

This thesis is concerned with Australian literature over a period of ten years, from 1950 to 1959. It is limited to a consideration of the literature produced by a small society over a relatively short period of time. Nevertheless, the problems which beet any discussion of literature in context of its society are apparent in this case.'