All posts tagged Gerald Murnane

Gerald Murnane (born 25 February 1939) is an Australian novelist, short story writer, poet and essayist. He has won acclaim for his distinctive prose and exploration of memory, perception, identity and the Australian landscape, often blurring fiction and autobiography in the process. Murnane has published 14 books between 1974 and 2021, perhaps his best-known being the 1982 novel The Plains.

The Plains by Gerald Murnane

Published on April 16, 2019

In The Plains, Australian novelist Gerald Murnane explores how the landowning families of the plains have preserved a rich and distinctive culture. Obsessed with their habitat and history, they hire artisans, writers, and historians to record in minute detail every aspect of their lives, and the nature of their land. A young filmmaker arrives on the plains, hoping to make his contribution to the elaboration of this history. In a private library, he begins to take notes for a film...

Barley Patch

Published on June 23, 2014

Gerald Murnane published Barley Patch in 2009. It is a contemplative and introspective work that delves into themes of memory, imagination, and the nature of storytelling. A writer and self-described “matchmaker of words” narrates the novel. He shares his reflections on his life, his obsession with the Australian landscape, and his experiences with writing and storytelling. The narrative is nonlinear and fragmented, with the narrator weaving together memories, dreams, and fictional scenarios. At the heart of the novel is the...