The Australian Literary Responses to 'Asia' subset provides information on Australian creative writing about or referring to Asia, and some Australian critical responses to the literatures of Asian countries. The subset is a tool to guide the reader through impressions of Asia through Australian eyes and a resource for subject or region-specific research.

Flinders University takes special responsibility for recording Australian literary responses to Asia, under the direction of Associate Professor Lyn Jacobs and Professor Gus Worby. The Australian Literary Responses to 'Asia' subset originated in the specialist Bibliography of Australian Literary Responses to 'Asia'.

Search the Australian Literary Responses to 'Asia' Subset.

Read Lyn Jacobs's and Rick Hosking's revised introduction to this work HERE.

This subset tracks literary responses by Australian writers to that diverse region called 'Asia'. It includes information on works about, set in, or in some cases, containing references to or images of countries in Asia, North East Asia, South East Asia, South Asia, Central Asia, the Middle East and Papua New Guinea. It does not cover the Asian diaspora (e.g. Fiji).

Tibet is included as a part of China in the AustLit Thesaurus as the United Nations does not recognise Tibet as an independent, sovereign nation. The researchers responsible for this subset, however, recognise Tibet's claims to independence.

Australian writers identifying with particular Asian cultural heritages are included in the Australian Multicultural Writers subset. However, this subset encompasses the perceptions of Asians in Australia and Asian-Australians as they view their Asian heritage and homelands, and as they perceive themselves to be viewed by Australians.

While the Australian Literary Responses to 'Asia' subset concentrates on creative and critical literature in accordance with the AustLit Scope Policy, it also includes some additional works including Australian literary critical responses to Asian literature.

A Bibliography of Australian Literary Responses to 'Asia' was published by Lyn Jacobs and Rick Hosking in association with the Flinders University Library in 1995, and electronically in 1996. Initial research focused on poetry, short stories, novels and plays. In 2000 Associate Professor Lyn Jacobs, Anne Chittleborough and Professor Gus Worby initiated new research to update the bibliography, expand its scope and adapt the records for publication within AustLit.

The original Bibliography, covering the period from European settlement to the present day, tracked literary responses by Australian writers to those regions of Asia most closely associated with Australia. It included information on works about, set in, or in some cases, containing references to or images of countries in Asia, Northeast Asia, Southeast Asia, South Asia and Papua New Guinea. Its incorporation into AustLit makes possible what has not yet been attempted: the future inclusion of material relating to Central Asia and the Middle East.

The Australian Literary Responses to 'Asia' subset contains hundreds of records migrated from the original Flinders Bibliography. Many other records about Australian writers' responses to Asia have been created by other AustLit contributors. All AustLit contributors continue to provide information about this segment of Australian literary culture, with Flinders taking special responsibility for the development of resources in this area.

Australian Literary Responses to 'Asia' information is sourced from the full range of AustLit information sources, including the National Bibliographic Database via Kinetica, and a number of specialist sources, journals and monographs held in private and library collections.

Many individuals, groups and organisations have assisted in the development of the Australian Literary Responses to 'Asia' subset. We particularly thank the following:

• the Flinders University Research Committee
• the Flinders University Library, especially the Librarian, Bill Cations

Australian Literary Responses to 'Asia' is a separately published work within AustLit.
No part of this work may be reproduced without permission.
ISBN 0 9750867 1 5
© AustLit: The Australian Literature Resource 2002-

A bibliography of Australian literary responses to 'Asia'.
Bibliography.
Includes index.
ISBN 0 9750867 1 5.

1. Australian literature - Bibliography.
2. Australian literature - History and criticism - Bibliography.
3. Oriental literature - 20th century - Bibliography.
4. Asia - In literature - Bibliography.
I. Jacobs, Lyn. II. Hosking, Rick.

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