01-26-2014, 12:32 PM | #1 |
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I want to read the longest Australian Novel ever written
It's called "Poor Fellow My Country," by Xavier Herbert.
This is the longest Australian novel ever written at 850,000 words (1,463 pages.) Unfortunately, it's not available as an ebook, as far as I can determine. Has anyone read this? |
01-26-2014, 05:39 PM | #2 |
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Quantity rather than quality, huh? . You could always tackle Samuel Richardson's "Clarissa", which is even longer at an estimated 984,870 words. It even has the advantage of being in the public domain, and available as an book!
Last edited by HarryT; 01-26-2014 at 05:43 PM. |
01-26-2014, 05:40 PM | #3 |
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Don here's a link to Abe books (referred through Book Depository)
http://www.abebooks.co.uk/servlet/Bo...%26amp%3By%3D0 Two (paper) books in one: Poor Fellow My Country and Capricornia 13.11 pounds A quick look in Aus on line bookshops I couldn't find Poor Fellow Last edited by Lynx-lynx; 01-26-2014 at 05:48 PM. Reason: add the word 'paper' |
01-26-2014, 05:42 PM | #4 |
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Ehhhhhhhhhhhhh
A short wiki bit ... Xavier Herbert (15 May 1901 – 10 November 1984) was an Australian writer best known for his Miles Franklin Award-winning novel Poor Fellow My Country (1975). He is considered one of the elder statesmen of Australian literature. He is also known for short story collections and his autobiography Disturbing Element. |
01-26-2014, 05:52 PM | #5 | |
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01-26-2014, 06:00 PM | #6 |
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It would be interesting to know the what the weight of that double paper book is ...
The 13 odd was my way of expressing English money |
01-26-2014, 06:03 PM | #7 |
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LOL . My apologies.
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01-26-2014, 06:35 PM | #8 |
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I read "Poor Fellow My Country" not long after it was first published, and I still have my hardback copy in its dustjacket. Although I can't imagine I'll ever read it again, it's one of the books I'll keep.
I know at the time we all thought it was a masterpiece, and it won the Miles Franklin award for "a novel which is of the highest literary merit and presents Australian life in any of its phases". Now I am tempted to reread it after all, but I am nearly forty years older and the book is very heavy - the print is clear and a good size, but this means it has nearly 1500 pages. Perhaps if it ever comes out as an ebook ... |
01-27-2014, 05:16 AM | #9 |
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Good news - you can borrow it as epub from openlibrary.org .
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01-27-2014, 10:31 AM | #10 | |
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No. Both. It's actually supposed to be a very highly regarded novel. Clarissa is even longer; that's correct. I attempted to read this when I was in my early 20s, but never finished. Since that time, though, I relish long intricate novels, which is one of the reasons I enjoy Post-Modern fiction and also Victorian novels. |
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01-27-2014, 10:34 AM | #11 | |
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ABE is one of my primary sources for hardbacks, since I'm a book collector. I saw the listing you mention - thanks. There appear to be only 2 copies available. The shipping from Australia (for one of those two copies), is outrageous! |
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01-27-2014, 10:36 AM | #12 |
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