The novel consists of a sequence of 140 sonnets, many of which had been previously published in newspapers, literary journals, and poetry anthologies.[2]
Synopsis
The novel tells the story of how two young men steal the body of an old friend from a city undertaker in order to give their friend the rural burial he so desired.
Publishing history
After its initial publication in Australia by Angus and Robertson in 1980,[3] the novel was reprinted by Angus and Robertson in 1982 and then published as follows:
A sound recording of the novel was created in 1985 by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.[5]
Critical reception
The Judges' Report for the National Book Council Award noted: "Here we have an original and daring work — a novel sequence in poetry — poetry indeed and not verse, and poetry which seeks to articulate a mythology about rural Australia. The lines are chiselled with care, the book sculptured with grace; narrative and dialogue fuse into a poetic whole, the poetic sensibility informs all: the darting phrase, the naked insight."[6]