Eat Pray Love author Elizabeth Gilbert on love for Tasmania, living with curiosity, and overcoming fear
Her books have sold millions of copies around the world but Eat Pray Love author Elizabeth Gilbert says one place in particular has cast a spell on her – Tasmania.
Tasmania
Don't miss out on the headlines from Tasmania. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Her books have sold millions of copies around the world but Elizabeth Gilbert says one place in particular has cast a spell on her – Tasmania.
The author of the 2006 smash hit memoir Eat Pray Love is currently touring Australia and delivering a series of talks in which she shares inspiring stories of loss, healing, and recovery.
She told the Mercury the “main reason” she had decided to embark on the tour was because she wanted to come back to Tasmania after being so taken with the state when first visiting a decade ago.
“I’ve wanted to come back ever since. It’s kind of the whole excuse for me to do this tour of Australia. I’m really, really happy to be coming back to Hobart,” Gilbert said ahead of her appearance at the Odeon Theatre on Tuesday evening.
“It’s just an incredibly wild place and the nature is awe-inspiring and beautiful and the quietness of the island and the cleanliness of the air and the ability to be able to see the stars without light pollution. For a New Yorker, it’s a pretty big deal.
“And then also the other aspect of it is that I was so blown away by the Mona Museum when I was here last time that I went two days in a row.”
Gilbert, 55, had a long and illustrious career as a freelance journalist before she wrote Eat Pray Love, which told the story of her solo trip around the world as she searched for meaning in the wake of a divorce.
The book was adapted into a film in 2010 and starred Julia Roberts as Gilbert.
Nearly 20 years on from the book’s original publication, Gilbert said she was pleased it still struck a chord with readers, especially women.
“I have a friend who calls me a walking permission slip and I think that’s kind of what my role in culture has been ever since Eat Pray Love [was published] – to just sort of signify in the way that I’ve lived and the stories that I tell that you do actually have permission to transform your life,” she said.
Gilbert said she hoped audiences who came to see her speak would leave feeling empowered to follow the path they wished to take in life, no matter the societal pressures that may be holding them back.
“What I’ve been talking about in my conversations on stage is a more general principle of something I call creative living, which is a spirit of living, a way of approaching the world where you routinely and consistently and habitually make your decisions based on curiosity rather than fear,” she said.
“So it’s essentially like a really compelling urging of people to be slightly more curious with their decisions and slightly less afraid.”
Tickets for Gilbert’s talk on February 11 start from $101 and are available via the Odeon Theatre’s website.
More Coverage
Originally published as Eat Pray Love author Elizabeth Gilbert on love for Tasmania, living with curiosity, and overcoming fear
Senator’s push to get new blood into exclusive gentlemen’s club
The Tasmanian Club is one of the oldest gentlemen’s clubs in Australia and now a Liberal Senator is pushing for new blood in its membership. Read who wants to join.
Why Keys believes his horse can win the Hobart Cup
Bookmakers may have written him off, but his trainer John Key has faith Travelling Gigolo has what it takes to win the Hobart Cup. Here’s why.