Whatever happened to Harrower?

Helen Trinca’s new book about Elizabeth Harrower; the Peter Blazey fellowship opens, and other news from the book world

Australian author Elizabeth Harrower stopped writing too suddenly

Why did Elizabeth Harrower – one of Australia’s most important post-war authors – stop writing at the height of her powers?

That’s the question Helen Trinca seeks to answer in her much-anticipated new biography, called Looking for Elizabeth.

It’s so intriguing, this mystery.

Harrower published four novels in the late 1950s and 1960s, and she was on the verge of publishing her fifth when she suddenly went quiet.

Why?

Helen had to know. We all want to know!

Looking for Elizabeth, the much anticipated biography of Elizabeth Harrower, by Helen Trinca

Harrower’s books provide some clues. The darker side of family life – abuse, and domestic violence – was her canvas. Helen interviewed her, toward the end of her life, and she’s had access to her archive, and her biography of this remarkable author promises to reveal more about the “legacy of abandonment” she carried throughout her life.

It is the first full biography of Harrower, and our own Nikki Gemmell (no slouch when it comes to beautiful works of fiction) has been lucky enough to read an early copy, and says it’s a “masterful deep dive into the enigmatic life of a writer who stunned … and then stopped.”

Trent Dalton says the book is “every bit as beguiling and complex as its towering subject … The more I read, the more compelled I felt to cut out a picture of Elizabeth Harrower and stick it above my writing desk”.

The Australian’s chief literary critic, Geordie Williamson, will launch the book at Sydney’s Gleebooks on July 16. If you can’t make the launch, you’ll be able to see Helen (who is a writer, editor, and colleague) in conversation with David Meagher at the Willoughby Writers Festival on July 18, or you could try to catch her at The Sydney Institute on July 21, or at everyone’s favourite literary festival, the Southern Highlands Writers Festival, in Bong Bong St, Bowral, also in July.

Plenty of chances to see one of the loveliest writers we have on this newspaper, exploring the life of one of the best writers we ever produced. Don’t miss it.

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Jessica Alice now lives in Byron Bay

Still with writers festivals: the program for Byron has been announced. This year’s theme is Passion and Purpose. Most sessions will again take place at the scenic Bangalow Showground on Bundjalung Country from August 8 - 10.

Artistic director Jessica Alice – an aside, but do you know she who owns one of the prettiest dresses I’ve ever seen? – says she’s thrilled include “impressive new voices” alongside some of the big names. “I’m honoured to present these brilliant authors who will ignite your curiosity and passion for a life well lived, and big ideas for a better world,” she says.

From matriarchs, motherhood and memoirs, turmoil and tyranny to identity, secrets, and sisters, you’re sure to find something you’d like know more about.

I was thrilled to see Andrew Denton on the program, alongside the superb photographer Julian Kingma. They will be talking about Julian’s mesmerising portrait book, The Power of Choice, which is a compilation of the photographs he has taken of people who are terminally ill. You’ll find more details online.

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You can’t help but feel for the good folk behind The Spare Room, a play based on Helen Garner’s beautiful novel. Illness knocked the cast around, meaning the opening night didn’t go ahead as planned, because they didn’t want journalists to see it until everyone was well again. So I don’t have a review for you today. But I hope to see it on Saturday night, and I can hardly wait. If you’ve read the book, you’ll know it’s a gorgeous story of female friendship, with the mighty Judy Davis playing “Helen” while Elizabeth Alexander plays her cancer-stricken friend, Nicola (yes, it’s a novel, but it’s based on life). It’s only on until July and tickets are like hen’s teeth, but do try to find one if you can.

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Warmest congratulations to the writers on the King’s Birthday honours list, particularly my old friend Phillip Adams (we go so far back, I can’t even tell you). He was awarded the highest honour, the AC, alongside JM Coetzee, author of Disgrace.  Ivor Indyk, publisher at Giramondo, received a Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for service to Australian literature. I know not everyone wants to make a song and dance about awards, but we here at Books are thrilled for all three of you.

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Peter Blazey in the arms of his lover Tim Herbert, ahead of Blazey’s death.

I wasn’t lucky enough to meet Peter Blazey while he was alive, and working here, but long time readers will remember him as a mighty force for good in journalism.

Just days before the first Mardi Gras parade in Sydney, he persuaded the then-editor to publish a four-page feature, titled Homosexuality in Australia.

He later became an advocate for HIV-AIDS patients, and while he was wrong about the benefits of conventional medicine – he didn’t like it, and refused to take it – he was nonetheless a mighty campaigner for human rights.

Applications for the fellowship established in his name are now open.

It’s administered by the University of Melbourne, and comes with a $20,000 award for a work-in-progress on autobiography, biography or life writing.

The award has been running for over 20 years, having been established by his partner, Tim Herbert, and his brother, the keen gardener, Clive Blazey, who are so pleased by its “ongoing cultural impact”.

Besides being a journalist, Peter Blazey worked as a press secretary for politicians Andrew Peacock and Moss Cass, and also published a handful of books, including a best-selling political biography of Henry Bolte, the longest-serving premier of Victoria.

In 1978, he ran for by-election under the Gay Solidarity Group, with the slogan Put a Poofter into Parliament – this was six years before homosexuality was decriminalised in NSW, so that took some balls.

He won 108 votes and lost his deposit.

Almost everyone who has been a Peter Blazey fellow has produced a book, including Helen Ennis (she wrote about Olive Cotton); Judith Pugh (on the life of artist Clifton Pugh); Sanaz Fotouhi, whose Love Marriage in Kabul traces her experience making a film in Afghanistan; and Lily Chan, whose Toyo is a portrait of her grandmother.

“Often there’s a familiar theme entailing marginalisation, stigma and the personal courage required to compel societal change,” says Tim.

“As a 78er, caught up in the riot that would become the first Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras, Peter Blazey would be very pleased.”

Applications close on August 11.

Screw Loose by Peter Blazey

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Today’s pages: the Democrats covered up for Joe Biden for too long and it probably cost them the election, according to a new book, Original Sin. You’ll find a review on Page 13. Also today: are rivers alive, and if so, do they have rights? Geordie Williamson considers the arguments, and we have a gorgeous extract from a new book by a former bookseller, and much more besides. Enjoy.