Patrick White

by During, Simon

• ISBN13: 9780195534979
• ISBN10: 0195534972
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 1996-07-18
• Publisher: Oxford University Press

Summary

This is the first book-length study which uses recent developments inliterary and cultural theory to elucidate Patrick White's life and work. Takingadvantage of recently published letters and biographical information, itrethinks White's place in our history and culture. It places White in postwarAustralia, arguing that he is best regarded as a writer whose ratherconventional modernist writings negotiated the end of colonialist relations withBritain. It addresses connections between White's homoerotic sexuality and hiswriting head-on, suggesting that many of his texts, notably Voss, attain some oftheir most powerful effects from being written in and about the closet.Professor During also views Patrick White as an autobiographical writer who drewon his life-history to construct an image of himself as a genius: a strategywhich successfully set him at the head of Australian national literature. It islikely that future studies of White will be in debt to this pioneering work ofcriticism.

Author Biography

Simon During is Robert Wallace Professor of English at The University of Melbourne.