 | |
| Author | Thomas Keneally |
|---|---|
| Country | Australia |
| Language | English |
| Genre | Historical fiction |
| Publisher | Wildcat Press |
Publication date | 1980 |
| Media type | |
| Pages | 126 pp. |
| ISBN | 0908463065 |
| Preceded by | Confederates |
| Followed by | Schindler's Ark |
The Cut-Rate Kingdom (1980) is an historical novel by Australian writer Thomas Keneally. It was originally published by Wildcat Press, a subsidiary of The Bulletin magazine, in Australia in 1980. [1]
During the Second World War journalist "Paper" Tyson reports on Australian Federal politics and is a great friend of current Prime Minister Johnny Mulhall. As the Prime Minister attempts to rally the war-time efforts in the country, and placate the ambitions of the visiting American five-star General McLeod, he is carrying on a clandestine affair with the wife of an Australian army general.
Writing in The Canberra Times Hope Hewitt noted: "It is narrated by a journalist, 'Paper' Tyson, a top paper man in Canberra, who actually lives in Parliament House and is a great friend of the reigning Prime Minister Johnny Mulhall. He writes admirable reporting prose with a tight storyline, an eye and ear for the significant detail or phrase, a nose for gossip and an ability — which Keneally in other roles might emulate — to resist the lure of purple prose...Part of the story's appeal, at least to senior citizens, is in the game of spotting the originals of the dramatis personnae. The author stops tantalisingly this side of libel, so the game remains one of guessing and never becomes complete identification." [2]
On the publication of the 1984 edition, Stan Barney commented: "As usual with Keneally, the research is impeccable and he has captured the atmosphere of wartime Australia with remarkable felicity (though his editors let him down by allowing both the Senate and House of Representatives to be furnished in plush velvet)...An interview between Tyson and McLeod is so believable that one wonders if McLeod, behaving like a Roman proconsul, is actually MacArthur being quoted. A visit by Mulhall to the Hunter coalfields to gain the support of the miners for the war effort is another memorable episode." [3]
After its original publication in 1980 in the Australia by publishers Wildcat Press [4] the novel was later published as follows:
and other paperback editions.
Thomas Michael Keneally, AO is an Australian novelist, playwright, essayist, and actor. He is best known for his non-fiction novel Schindler's Ark, the story of Oskar Schindler's rescue of Jews during the Holocaust, which won the Booker Prize in 1982. The book would later be adapted into Steven Spielberg's 1993 film Schindler's List, which won seven Academy Awards, including Best Picture.
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 Survivor is a 1969 novel by Australian author Thomas Keneally.
Three Cheers for the Paraclete (1968) is a novel by the Australian author Thomas Keneally. It won the Miles Franklin Award in 1968.
Confederates is a 1979 novel by the Australian author Thomas Keneally which uses the American Civil War as its main subject matter.
The Colin Roderick Award is presented annually by the Foundation for Australian Literary Studies at Queensland's James Cook University for "the best book published in Australia which deals with any aspect of Australian life". It was first presented in 1967 and has a prize of A$20,000. Starting in 1980, the H. T. Priestley Memorial Medal has also been bestowed upon the award winner.
The Lone Hand was a monthly Australian magazine of literature and poetry published between 1907 and 1928. The magazine was based in Sydney.
This article presents a list of the historical events and publications of Australian literature during 2012.
The Fear (1965) is a novel by Australian writer Thomas Keneally. The novel is also known by the title By the Line.
This article presents a list of the historical events and publications of Australian literature during 1971.
This article presents a list of the historical events and publications of Australian literature during 1976.
Season in Purgatory (1976) is a novel by Australian author Thomas Keneally.
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 1987.
Passenger (1979) is a novel by Australian writer Thomas Keneally.
A Family Madness (1985) is a novel by Australian writer Thomas Keneally. It was originally published by Hodder and Stoughton in Australia in 1985.
Act of Grace (1988) is a novel by Australian writer Thomas Keneally, published under the pseudonym "William Coyle". It was originally published by Chatto and Windus in the UK in 1988. It is also known by the title Firestorm.
Homesickness (1980) is a novel by Australian writer Murray Bail. It was originally published by Macmillan in Australia in 1980.
Milk and Honey (1984) is a novel by Australian writer Elizabeth Jolley. It was originally published by Fremantle Press in Australia in 1984.