Four of the best
Separating fact from fiction can be a difficult thing
Orwell’s legacy
WHILE this is a fictional life of George Orwell, it has that ring of truth that inhabits books based on deep research and understanding of the subject.
While there are glimpses of the early years of Eric Blair, the old Etonian who became a policeman in Burma, Australian author Dennis Glover is more concerned with the man and author Blair became when he took on the nom de plume George Orwell.
Glover shows the struggles, the political convictions, emotions and love behind his work, how one romance led to Keep the Aspidistra Flying, and how his time with the anarchists during the Spanish Civil War – and their betrayal by the USSR – eventually led to Homage to Catalonia, Animal Farm and his undoubted masterpiece, Nineteen Eighty-Four.
Orwell suffered with ill-health much of his life, and died at the age of 46 in 1950.
Glover uncovers Orwell’s inner strength, the will that allowed him to continue writing even as he knew he was dying.
◗ VERDICT: Blairing the lines
◗ The Last Man in Europe, Dennis Glover, Black Inc, RRP $30 — Barry Reynolds
A place in history
AS AUSTRALIAN general Harry
Chauvel gave the order for one of history’s last great cavalry charges, he took his place to watch something rarely seen by a corps commander in modern warfare – the panorama of the battle.
It was just on dusk on
October 31, 1917, when the
Australian Mounted
Division’s 4th Light Horse
Brigade made its legendary charge at
Beersheba.
The light horsemen had rifles slung over their backs and bayonets in their hands.
Some dismounted to fight the Turks guarding the town, but the bulk galloped in and captured almost 2000 Turkish soldiers.
Cameron, a Canberra-based military historian, also recounts the fate of 30,000 Australian horses who could not return home because of quarantine laws.
◗ VERDICT: Fascinating
◗ The Charge, David W Cameron, Viking, RRP $35 — Grantlee Kieza
Ghosts on watch
THE massacre was a long time ago. The rape of an Aboriginal girl by a farmer brought payback, and that sparked a massive retaliation against the local population. There weren’t many left after that. But now a descendant of those farmers, Dan, wants to bring healing to what became a haunted, taboo place. Scott’s book is stunning – haunting and powerful, giving shadowy presence to those ghosts as they watch and shape unfolding events.
◗ VERDICT: Must read
◗ Taboo, Kim Scott, Picador, $33 — Corinna Hente
Saint and sinner
HOW do you review a book by a well-known Australian book reviewer about a book reviewer involved in a murder?
With great enthusiasm, and just a hint of glee. But this is not just any fictional reviewer: Ray Saint is one loathed by much of the publishing industry because he takes no prisoners.
He is on prescribed medication, but also self-medicates with alcohol. Unreliable narrator does not even come close, especially as he is prone to blackouts and loss of memory.
When publishing house PR girl Jade Howe is found dead and Saint is known to have had a short affair with her, he must try to prove his innocence.
But clues are not so much pursued as stumbled over, often drunkenly.
This story will have special appeal to anyone who has worked in newspapers or in publishing, but it is such a wonderful piece of noir it should be widely read … and reviewed.
◗ VERDICT: Dream job
◗ Get Poor Slow, David Free, Picador, RRP $30 — Barry Reynolds