 First edition | |
| Author | Thea Astley |
|---|---|
| Country | Australia |
| Language | English |
| Publisher | Angus and Robertson |
Publication date | 1965 |
| Media type | Print (Hardback & Paperback) |
| Pages | 210 |
| Preceded by | The Well Dressed Explorer |
| Followed by | A Boat Load of Home Folk |
The Slow Natives (1965) is a Miles Franklin Award-winning novel by Australian author Thea Astley. [1]
It won the Miles Franklin Award in 1965, [2] the second of her record number of four wins.
Set in sub-tropical Queensland, the novel examines the relationships between suburban Brisbanites including a priest, nuns and a couple and their teenage son.
The novel represents a departure for Astley from her earlier novels in that rather than focusing on one or two particular characters, she moves "freely among a group, switching attention omnisciently from one to another. Almost all the characters suffer from some form of spiritual aridity; in Astley's vision, there often seems nothing between repression, and empty or even corrupt sexuality". [3]
Astley's characters in this novel often only realise their failings after disaster has beset them. The father, for example, only realises after his teenage son has lost his leg in a "joy-riding accident", that he has "failed to give his son 'the sort of discipline ... [he] wanted more than anything in the world'." [4]
Ruth Lesley, in The Canberra Times noted: "She works on two levels, that of the everyday world of meals, work, parties and squabbles, which she describes with wit and penetration, and that of the lonely inner world of each of her characters. There is very little action as such, but her analysis of the characters and the subtleties of their relationships makes very interesting reading." [5]
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.
Thea Beatrice May Astley was an Australian novelist and short story writer. She was a prolific writer who was published for over 40 years from 1958. At the time of her death, she had won more Miles Franklin Awards, Australia's major literary award, than any other writer. As well as being a writer, she taught at all levels of education – primary, secondary and tertiary.
The Well Dressed Explorer (1962) is a Miles Franklin Award-winning novel by Australian author Thea Astley. This novel shared the award with The Cupboard Under the Stairs by George Turner.
The Cupboard Under the Stairs is a Miles Franklin Award-winning novel by Australian author George Turner. This novel shared the award with The Well Dressed Explorer by Thea Astley.
Careful, He Might Hear You is a Miles Franklin Award-winning novel by Australian author Sumner Locke Elliott. It was published in 1963 and was the author's first novel.
The Acolyte is a Miles Franklin Award-winning novel by Australian author Thea Astley first published in 1972.
Drylands (1999) is a Miles Franklin Award-winning novel by Australian author Thea Astley. This novel shared the award with Benang by Kim Scott.
The Multiple Effects of Rainshadow (1996) is Thea Astley's second to last novel. It won The Age Book of the Year in 1996, and was shortlisted for the 1997 Miles Franklin Award.
Reaching Tin River (1990) is a novel by Australian author Thea Astley.
Beachmasters (1985) is a novel by Australian author Thea Astley. It won the 1986 ALS Gold Medal.
An Item from the Late News (1982) is a novel by Australian author Thea Astley.
Vanishing Points (1992) is a novel by Australian author Thea Astley. It consists of two loosely linked novellas, The Genteel Poverty Bus Company and Inventing the Weather.
A Kindness Cup (1974) is a novel by Australian author Thea Astley. It won the 1975 The Age Book of the Year Award.
A Boat Load of Home Folk (1968) is a novel by Australian author Thea Astley.
This article presents a list of the historical events and publications of Australian literature during 1961.
This article presents a list of the historical events and publications of Australian literature during 1962.
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 1979.
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 1992.
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