A Fringe of Leaves - discussion
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1pamelad
The Austin and Ellen Roxburgh are sailing back to England from Van Diemen's Land. In the 1840's, when A Fringe of Leaves is set, sea voyages were perilous and people didn't undertake them lightly.
I'm 90 pages in and enjoying the book. The ship will be wrecked soon.
I'm 90 pages in and enjoying the book. The ship will be wrecked soon.
2baswood
I read this excellent novel last year, here is a link to my short review http://www.librarything.com/work/85602
4pamelad
A Fringe of Leaves by Patrick White
The Roxburghs are on their way back to England from Van Diemen’s land when their ship is wrecked off the coast of Queensland. The frail hypochondriac, Austin Roxburgh, had made the perilous journey to Tasmania to see his younger brother, the brutal Garnet, who had left England many years before to escape the consequences of his criminal activities. Roxburgh is accompanied by his wife Ellen, a farmer’s daughter. Ellen now has a ladylike veneer, the result both of her mother-in-law’s training, and living with her fastidious husband.
A Fringe of Leaves takes as its starting point the true story of Eliza Fraser who was shipwrecked then saved by aborigines. In A Fringe of Leaves, this is Ellen’s fate, and the first half of the book is taken up with establishing her background. What was it about Ellen that enabled her to survive the harsh existence with the aborigines then convince an escaped convict to accompany her hundreds of miles through the bus, living off the land?
Other reviews of White have mentioned his wordiness. A Fringe of Leaves is full of descriptions of people and places, but they contribute to the narrative and the language is beautiful.
Highly recommended.
The Roxburghs are on their way back to England from Van Diemen’s land when their ship is wrecked off the coast of Queensland. The frail hypochondriac, Austin Roxburgh, had made the perilous journey to Tasmania to see his younger brother, the brutal Garnet, who had left England many years before to escape the consequences of his criminal activities. Roxburgh is accompanied by his wife Ellen, a farmer’s daughter. Ellen now has a ladylike veneer, the result both of her mother-in-law’s training, and living with her fastidious husband.
A Fringe of Leaves takes as its starting point the true story of Eliza Fraser who was shipwrecked then saved by aborigines. In A Fringe of Leaves, this is Ellen’s fate, and the first half of the book is taken up with establishing her background. What was it about Ellen that enabled her to survive the harsh existence with the aborigines then convince an escaped convict to accompany her hundreds of miles through the bus, living off the land?
Other reviews of White have mentioned his wordiness. A Fringe of Leaves is full of descriptions of people and places, but they contribute to the narrative and the language is beautiful.
Highly recommended.
5pamelad
I've read reviews of White's novels that describe his prose as turgid. I certainly didn't find it so in this book, and many times stopped to admire a brilliant phrase that encapsulated a person or a place.
6amandameale
#5 I agree entirely.
I'm beginning to understand why Patrick White is not everybody's favourite author. He tends to look at the negatives of human behaviour and he's very good at it. Such perspicacity! I noticed that A Fringe of Leaves (which I recently finished) examines snobbery, malice, brutality, shame, and guilt, among other concepts.
The character of Ellen maintained my interest throughout because of the way she adapted to whatever situation she was in. (As Pam said, above.)
I loved A Fringe of Leaves.
I'm beginning to understand why Patrick White is not everybody's favourite author. He tends to look at the negatives of human behaviour and he's very good at it. Such perspicacity! I noticed that A Fringe of Leaves (which I recently finished) examines snobbery, malice, brutality, shame, and guilt, among other concepts.
The character of Ellen maintained my interest throughout because of the way she adapted to whatever situation she was in. (As Pam said, above.)
I loved A Fringe of Leaves.
