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Carpentaria (novel)
Encyclopedia
Carpentaria is the second novel by the Indigenous Australian
author Alexis Wright
. It met with widespread critical acclaim when it was published in mid-2006
, and went on to win Australia's premier literary prize, the Miles Franklin Award
, in mid-2007.
in northwest Queensland
. There, the Aboriginal people of the Pricklebush clan are engaged in a number of argumentative conflicts with various enemies in the community, including the white inhabitants of Desperance, the local law enforcement and government officials, and a large multinational mining operation that has been established on their traditional sacred land. The narrative chronicles the interpersonal relationships shared between three men embroiled in these disputes: the wise, pragmatic, and blunt Normal Phantom; the nomadic, overzealous shamanic practitioner of Aboriginal traditional religion, Mozzie Fishman; and Norm's son, Will Phantom, who deserted his father's house to undertake a cross-country spiritual journey with Fishman, but who has now returned home with something of Fishman's character in him.
decided to only stock books produced by small-press publishers if the publishers themselves paid a requisite fee. The implication of this decision was that such publishers would be unable to afford these fees, and thus their publications would be removed from the shelves to make room for books that were likely to achieve higher sales. Carpentaria, after having been rejected by every major Australian publisher, was eventually published by Giramondo
, one of the publishing houses targeted in Angus and Robertson's campaign; therefore, the most recent winner of Australia's largest literary prize would no longer be stocked in one of Australia's largest bookstore chains. This too received concentrated media attention, and again boosted sales of the novel.
Indigenous Australians
Indigenous Australians are the original inhabitants of the Australian continent and nearby islands. The Aboriginal Indigenous Australians migrated from the Indian continent around 75,000 to 100,000 years ago....
author Alexis Wright
Alexis Wright
Alexis Wright is an Indigenous Australian writer best known for winning the Miles Franklin Award for her 2006 novel Carpentaria....
. It met with widespread critical acclaim when it was published in mid-2006
2006 in literature
The year 2006 in literature involved some significant events and new books.-Literature:*Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie - Half of a Yellow Sun*Chris Adrian - The Children's Hospital *Martin Amis - House of Meetings...
, and went on to win Australia's premier literary prize, the Miles Franklin Award
Miles Franklin Award
The Miles Franklin Literary Award is an annual literary prize for the best Australian ‘published novel or play portraying Australian life in any of its phases’. The award was set up according to the will of Miles Franklin , who is best known for writing the Australian classic My Brilliant Career ...
, in mid-2007.
Plot introduction
The novel tells the interconnected stories of several inhabitants of the fictional town of Desperance, situated on the Gulf of CarpentariaGulf of Carpentaria
The Gulf of Carpentaria is a large, shallow sea enclosed on three sides by northern Australia and bounded on the north by the Arafura Sea...
in northwest Queensland
Queensland
Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean...
. There, the Aboriginal people of the Pricklebush clan are engaged in a number of argumentative conflicts with various enemies in the community, including the white inhabitants of Desperance, the local law enforcement and government officials, and a large multinational mining operation that has been established on their traditional sacred land. The narrative chronicles the interpersonal relationships shared between three men embroiled in these disputes: the wise, pragmatic, and blunt Normal Phantom; the nomadic, overzealous shamanic practitioner of Aboriginal traditional religion, Mozzie Fishman; and Norm's son, Will Phantom, who deserted his father's house to undertake a cross-country spiritual journey with Fishman, but who has now returned home with something of Fishman's character in him.
Publication
At the time of publication the Australian bookstore chain Angus & RobertsonAngus & Robertson
Angus & Robertson is a bookstore chain in Australia. Its first bookstore was opened in 110½ Market Street, Sydney by Scotsman David Angus in 1884; it sold second-hand books. In 1886, he went into partnership with fellow Scot, George Robertson with whom he had worked earlier.- Bookselling history...
decided to only stock books produced by small-press publishers if the publishers themselves paid a requisite fee. The implication of this decision was that such publishers would be unable to afford these fees, and thus their publications would be removed from the shelves to make room for books that were likely to achieve higher sales. Carpentaria, after having been rejected by every major Australian publisher, was eventually published by Giramondo
Giramondo Publishing
Giramondo Publishing is an Australian small press. It is a publisher of Australian literary writing and also published HEAT magazine until its closure in 2011....
, one of the publishing houses targeted in Angus and Robertson's campaign; therefore, the most recent winner of Australia's largest literary prize would no longer be stocked in one of Australia's largest bookstore chains. This too received concentrated media attention, and again boosted sales of the novel.
Reviews
- "Asia and Pacific Writers Network" http://www.apwn.net/index.php?/news/more/carpentaria_by_alexis_wright_reviewed_by_dr_cathie_dunsford/
- "Australian Women's Book Review" http://www.emsah.uq.edu.au/awsr/awbr/issues/142/carpentaria.html
- "The Sydney Morning Herald" http://www.smh.com.au/news/book-reviews/carpentaria/2006/09/18/1158431619821.html?page=fullpage
- "Time Magazine" http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1539146,00.html?iid=chix-sphere
External links
- Official listing for the novel at the website of Giramondo PublishingGiramondo PublishingGiramondo Publishing is an Australian small press. It is a publisher of Australian literary writing and also published HEAT magazine until its closure in 2011....
. - A Question of Fear, the full text of Wright's International PEN address.