 First edition | |
| Author | Ruth Park |
|---|---|
| Country | Australia |
| Language | English |
| Genre | Novel |
| Publisher | Nelson, Australia |
Publication date | 1977 |
| Media type | Print (Hardback & Paperback) |
| Pages | 435 |
| ISBN | 0-17-005204-4 |
| OCLC | 4498430 |
| 823 | |
| LC Class | PZ3.P2206 Sw PR9639.3.P37 |
| Preceded by | One-a-Pecker, Two-a-Pecker |
| Followed by | Missus |
Swords and Crowns and Rings (1977) is a Miles Franklin Award-winning novel by Australian author Ruth Park. [1]
It mainly follows the stories of two children in a town in rural New South Wales across three decades at the start of the 20th century.
The primary protagonist, Jackie Hanna, is born a "dwarf" in 1907 to Walter and Peggy Hanna, two grocers in Kingsland, NSW. Jackie's father Walter dies during his childhood, and his mother remarries to a veteran of the Boer War. The secondary protagonist, Dorothy "Cushie" Moy, is born to a wealthy family; her father is a banker and her mother the daughter of a newspaper tycoon. In their youth, the two protagonists fall in love, and much of the book arcs around the circumstances and misfortunes that keep them apart. In particular, a substantial portion of the book focuses on Jackie's experiences as a migrant worker through the Great Depression in Australia, including interactions with New South Wales Premier Jack Lang.
The book is divided into six chapters: 1. Jackie Hanna, Cushie Moy 1907–1918 2. Jackie Hanna 1924 3. Cushie Moy 1924–1925 4. Jackie Hanna 1924–1929 5. Jackie Hanna 1931 6. Jackie Hanna, Cushie Moy 1931–1932
Hope Hewitt in The Canberra Times was not overly impressed: "The symbols tinkle cornily over every page, not just swords and crowns and rings, but dwarfs and clocks and gold and many more, all familiar. The language is heavy with adjectives and cliches, and at no point does a distinctive voice emerge from this syruped version of Sydney in the bad old days." [2]
Rosina Ruth Lucia Park AM was a New Zealand–born Australian author. Her best known works are the novels The Harp in the South (1948) and Playing Beatie Bow (1980), and the children's radio serial The Muddle-Headed Wombat (1951–1970), which also spawned a book series (1962–1982).
The Miles Franklin Literary Award is an annual literary prize awarded to "a novel which is of the highest literary merit and presents Australian life in any of its phases". The award was set up according to the will of Miles Franklin (1879–1954), who is best known for writing the Australian classic My Brilliant Career (1901). She bequeathed her estate to fund this award. As of 2016, the award is valued at A$60,000.
The Age Book of the Year Awards were annual literary awards presented by Melbourne's The Age newspaper. The awards were first presented in 1974. After 1998, they were presented as part of the Melbourne Writers Festival. Initially, two awards were given, one for fiction, the other for non-fiction work, but in 1993, a poetry award in honour of Dinny O'Hearn was added. The criteria were that the works be "of outstanding literary merit and express Australian identity or character," and be published in the year before the award was made. One of the award-winners was chosen as The Age Book of the Year. The awards were discontinued in 2013. In 2021 The Age Book of the Year was revived as a fiction prize, with the winner announced at the Melbourne Writers Festival.
The Slow Natives (1965) is a Miles Franklin Award-winning novel by Australian author Thea Astley.
The Mango Tree is a Miles Franklin Award-winning novel by Australian author Ronald McKie.
Tirra Lirra by the River is a novel by Australian writer Jessica Anderson. It won the Miles Franklin Award. Though written some years before, it was first published in 1978. It is included in Carmen Callil and Colm Tóibín's collection The Modern Library: The Best 200 Novels in English since 1950.
Dancing on Coral is a Miles Franklin Award-winning novel by Australian author Glenda Adams.
This article presents a list of the historical events and publications of Australian literature during 1965.
This article presents a list of the historical events and publications of Australian literature during 1966.
This article presents a list of the historical events and publications of Australian literature during 1977.
This article presents a list of the historical events and publications of Australian literature during 1978.
This article presents a list of the historical events and publications of Australian literature during 1979.
This article presents a list of the historical events and publications of Australian literature during 1980.
This article presents a list of the historical events and publications of Australian literature during 1981.
This article presents a list of the historical events and publications of Australian literature during 1984.
This article presents a list of the historical events and publications of Australian literature during 1985.
This article presents a list of the historical events and publications of Australian literature during 1987.
This article presents a list of the historical events and publications of Australian literature during 1991.
This article presents a list of the historical events and publications of Australian literature during 1993.
This article presents a list of the historical events and publications of Australian literature during 1995.
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