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y separately published work icon Patrick White Centenary : The Legacy of a Prodigal Son anthology   criticism  
Issue Details: First known date: 2014... 2014 Patrick White Centenary : The Legacy of a Prodigal Son
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Contents

* Contents derived from the Newcastle upon Tyne, Northumberland,
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England,
c
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United Kingdom (UK),
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Western Europe, Europe,:Cambridge Scholars Press , 2014 version. Please note that other versions/publications may contain different contents. See the Publication Details.
Patrick White: Twyborn Moments of Grace, Brian Kiernan , single work criticism (p. 291-301)
The Shift from Commonwealth to Postcolonial Literatures: Patrick White’s “The Twitching Colonel” and Manuka Wijesinghe’s Theravada Man, Isabel Alonso-Breto , single work criticism
Isabel Alonso-Breto whose comparison of The Twyborn Affair 'to that of a Sri Lankan writer juxtaposes the postcolonial rebellion of the retired British colonel and that of the seemingly obediently colonised schoolteacher. The daringly experimental nature of this contribution underlines the celebratory aspect of this collection and indicates the chameleon-like possibilities of the White text, its continuing capacity for growth and its openness to varied possibilities of interpretation.' (Introduction xx)
 (p. 302-318)
The Unity of Being-Synergies Between White’s Mystic Vision and the Indian Religio- Spiritual Tradition, Gursharan Aurora , single work criticism (p. 319-338)
Establishing a Connection : Resonances in Gurugranth Sahib and Works of Patrick White, Ishmeet Kaur , single work criticism

'Comparative Literature, as a discipline, opens up possibilities of establishing connections between what might seem to be apparently diverse and far-fetched. These connections make sense if they are understood in context of the contemporary concern with plurality and diversity, both cultural and linguistic, yet also remain conscious of certain similarities encountered at several points of contact. The present paper is an attempt to underline certain similarities of which comparison is made possible between two different genres in different centuries and across different continents. The main focus here is on establishing a comparison between Patrick White's The Tree of Man and the scriptural text Guru Granth Sahib. ' (Introduction)

 (p. 339-353)
Patrick White and James K. Baxter : Public Intellectuals, Mark Williams , single work criticism
'I start with the difficulties encountered in Australia and New Zealand from the 1960s as both countries sought to reconfigure national identities derived from common sources in Victorian imperial racial attitudes, attitudes which were often incorporated into, rather than expelled from, cultural nationalism. To a large extent this process of national ‘rebranding’ has been conducted at state level as a managerial response to an urgent need to modernise settler economies, attract skills and capital, and differentiate contemporary national imageries from colonial ones. In both countries this elite-driven managerialism has been in conflict with the populist politics of settler recidivism. Yet in both also, ethically charged advocacy of a more just national order, is often led by artists and intellectuals but with significant support in the majority white populations, has been crucial in articulating the terms of change and broadening its appeal.' (Source : www.asaa.net.au/files/PATRICK%20WHITE%20CENTENARY%20-%20Speakers%20v3.pdf )
 (p. 354-367)
Smelly Martyrs : Patrick White’s Dubbo Ushers in Roy’s Velutha and Malouf’s Gemmy, Julie Mehta , single work criticism
'The final chapter in this section takes the international comparisons to White still further with Julie Mehta’s fascinating discussion of the postcolonial implications of the concept of abjection exemplified in the fate of the outcast and drawing on parallels between White’s Aboriginal fringe-dweller and victim Dubbo in Riders in the Chariot, Arundhati Roy’s persecuted and murdered outcast Velutha in The God of Small Things and Gemmy the rejected black/white man in David Malouf’s Remembering Babylon. The discussion, prosecuted with Mehta’s characteristic energy, mediates a vision of the body of the outcast as an eloquent accusation against the abuse of power, in seemingly civilised societies, and suggests White’s continuing influence in the dissemination of these ideas amongst writers and readers alike, well beyond Australia.' (Introduction xxi)
 (p. 368-383)
Australia and Its First Peoples, Fred Chaney , single work criticism
'Fred Chaney’s discusses 'his practical contributions at the very highest administrative level in advancing Indigenous causes; (he was, at one time, Chair of Reconciliation, Australia), confers a particular distinction and authority on his contribution. ' (Introduction xxii)
 (p. 384-399)
Aboriginal Progress in the Native Title Era : Truth and Substantive Equality in Terra Australis, Anna de Souza , single work criticism
'In this discussion Anne De Soyza 'outlines an example of forward thinking on the perennial problem of assisting Indigenous progress by confronting the established idea that this could only be achieved by retaining an overarching allegiance to traditional ways and showing the need for a radical re-thinking of this policy.' (Introduction xxii)
 (p. 400-413)
Rewriting Australia’s Foundation Narrative : White, Scott and the Mabo Case, Kieran Dolin , single work criticism
'Kieran Dolin, a qualified lawyer as well as a literary researcher, combines his specialist knowledge of the law with his literary expertise to assess the impact of the revolutionary Mabo land rights decision on Australian writing. Dolin investigates how the founding myths of Australia are being re-written since the Mabo case, which represents a watershed in the advancement of Indigenous rights. Keith Truscott offers a rare Indigenous perspective on the key development of the Mabo decision in the Aboriginal story in Australia. He encapsulates in it an innovative new interpretation of the term ‘Indigenous’ which is reflective of the celebratory mood released in the Aboriginal psyche by the revolutionary legislation which restored a people’s self-respect.' (Introduction xxii)
 (p. 413-428)
Patrick White, “Belltrees” and the ‘Station Complex’ : Some Reflections, Victoria L. Grieves , single work criticism

'In this centenary year of Patrick White’s birth I have found myself reflecting on his relationship to Australian history and in so doing reflecting also on the nature of history itself. History changes with the changing nature of the societies that produce ideas about the past. What is important about Patrick White is that, while seeking to reflect Australia’s social, intellectual and cultural life back on itself as a novelist and playwright, he was deeply engaged with issues in Australian history, as they existed at that time. In this regard, he understood the difficulty of coming to terms with the most unsavoury aspects of our past and advised Australians:

The flow of history is what we have to face and adapt ourselves to. The adjustments we may have to make may be pretty agonising. But they will have to be made (Brennan and Flynn 1989: 85).

(Introduction)

 (p. 429-442)
Mabo – Twenty Years On: An Indigenous Perspective, Bluey Truscott , single work criticism

'I need to explain first how I come to be contributing a Paper to a collection of studies on the work of the Australian literary giant Patrick White; although I am no specialist in the field of literature. A few years ago, while I was still teaching at Kurongkurl Katitjin at Edith Cowan University, a colleague working in the field of literature launched her book on White's construction of the Indigenous characters in his works, a portrayal which respected their human dignity. This was a radical departure from earlier Orientalist representations which had dominated Australian writing for decades. (vanden Driesen 2009) The book presented White's work as making a contribution to white Australians' perception of the importance of dealing rightly with the nation's indigenous peoples.' (Introduction)

 (p. 443-457)
“This Poem Is a Sea Anchor” : Robert Sullivan’s Anchor, Jane Stafford , single work criticism
'Jane Stafford’s detailed and sensitive commentary on a New Zealand writer also helps reinforce the cultural links that exist between the two countries. ' (Introduction xxiii)
 (p. 458-469)
Flaws in the Glass : Why Australia Did Not Become a Republic … After Patrick White, Stephen Alomes , single work criticism
'Stephen Alomes proffers, with considerable empathy, even passion, an astute analysis of why an Australian republic could not be achieved through the last public referendum held on this issue. He goes to considerable lengths to show his awareness of the implications for Australian sovereignty; concerns which he notes were shared by White.' (Introduction, xiii)
 (p. 470-485)
Negotiating “Otherness” : The Muslim Community in Australia, Ameer Ali , single work criticism
'Ameer Ali’s discussion, like those of all the writers in this section, is stamped with the distinctiveness of firsthand knowledge of the public issues involved. Beginning with a highly apposite quote from a speech by White, Ameer grasps the opportunity here of stimulating discussion at an international level xxiv Introduction on an issue which is of considerable importance not just within the Australian context but worldwide.'
 (p. 486)
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