Lilian's Story (1985) is a novel by Australian writer Kate Grenville. It was originally published by Allen & Unwin in Australia in 1985.[1]
| Author | Kate Grenville |
|---|---|
| Country | Australia |
| Language | English |
| Genre | Fiction |
| Publisher | Allen & Unwin |
Publication date | 1985 |
| Media type | |
| Pages | 211 pp. |
| ISBN | 0868614939 |
| Preceded by | - |
| Followed by | Dreamhouse |
Synopsis edit
The story of Lilian Singer is based on the real-lfe character of Bea Miles (1902–73), an eccentric Sydney 'madwoman' who was given to walking the Sydney streets quoting Shakespeare and jumping into other people's taxis.
Critical reception edit
Critic Peter Craven looked back on the book after it had been in print for thirty years: "Kate Grenville's Lilian's Story is one of the great Australian novels of the last thirty years. When it was first published in 1985, it was immediately hailed as a masterpiece...The first thing to notice about Lilian's Story is the richness of the language. And it's worth noting, in the light of Patrick White’s commendation, that the rhetorical, highly coloured language – both the writing looked at as the style of the novel and the richness of the first-person narrative that declares itself as Lilian's voice, as this super bright, superior, weird character telling her own story – is rich and poetical (some people would say to the point of being 'purple') in a way that shows White’s influence...Lilian’s Story is one of the most remarkable pieces of late-twentieth-century Australian fiction not only because of its richness of orchestration and the originality of its vision, but because it starts as an archetypal account of childhood, progresses into the splendours and miseries of Lilian as a young woman, and then presents her as a deranged old derelict, though a colourful and well-known one."[2]
Publication history edit
After its original publication in 1985 in Australia by publisher Allen & Unwin[3] the novel was later reprinted as follows:
- Allen & Unwin, Australia, 1986
The novel was revised after suggestions from its American editor[1] and published as follows:
- Viking, USA, 1986[4]
- Allen & Unwin, Australia, 1991,[5] 1995,[6] 1996,[7] 1997[8] and 2008[9]
- Harcourt Brace, USA, 1994[1]
- Picador, UK, 1994[1]
- Canongate, UK, 2007[10]
- Text Publishing, Australia, 2021[11]
The novel was also translated into French in 2004.[12]
Film adaptation edit
In 1996 the novel was adapted as a feature film which was directed by Jerzy Domaradzki, from a screenplay by Steve Wright, featuring Toni Collette, Ruth Cracknell and Barry Otto in the lead roles.[13]
Awards edit
The novel won The Australian/Vogel Literary Award in 1984.[14]
See also edit
References edit
- ^ a b c d "Austlit — Lilian's Story by Kate Grenville (Allen & Unwin) 1985". Austlit. Retrieved 22 November 2023.
- ^ ""Reading Australia: 'Lilian's Story' by Kate Grenville"". Australian Book Review, 27 May 2015. Retrieved 22 November 2023.
- ^ "Lilian's Story (Allen & Unwin 1985)". National Library of Australia. Retrieved 22 November 2023.
- ^ "Lilian's Story (Viking)". National Library of Australia. Retrieved 22 November 2023.
- ^ "Lilian's Story (Allen & Unwin 1991)". National Library of Australia. Retrieved 22 November 2023.
- ^ "Lilian's Story (Allen & Unwin 1995)". National Library of Australia. Retrieved 22 November 2023.
- ^ "Lilian's Story (Allen & Unwin 1996)". National Library of Australia. Retrieved 22 November 2023.
- ^ "Lilian's Story (Allen & Unwin 1997)". National Library of Australia. Retrieved 22 November 2023.
- ^ "Lilian's Story (Allen & Unwin 2008)". National Library of Australia. Retrieved 22 November 2023.
- ^ "Lilian's Story (Cannongate 2007)". National Library of Australia. Retrieved 22 November 2023.
- ^ "Lilian's Story (Text 2021)". National Library of Australia. Retrieved 22 November 2023.
- ^ "Lilian's Story (Mouries 2004)". National Library of Australia. Retrieved 22 November 2023.
- ^ "IMDB - Lilian's Story". IDMB. Retrieved 22 November 2023.
- ^ "Austlit — The Australian/Vogel National Literary Award 1984". Austlit. Retrieved 11 November 2023.