David Malouf begins by describing, in loving evocative detail, the house in Brisbane where he was born and grew up, moving from room to room, always relating the smallest items in it to the life he remembers and his widening perception.

Malouf invites us on an intimate, beautifully described journey into his own past, beginning in his childhood home. Each house, like each place, has its own topography, its own lore. A complex history comes down to us, through household jokes and anecdotes, odd family habits, and irrational superstitions, that forever shapes what we see and the way in which we see it. Beginning with his childhood home, David Malouf moves on to show other landmarks in his life, and the way places and things create our private worlds. Written with humour and uncompromising intelligence, 12 Edmondstone Street is an unforgettable portrait of one man's life.

Details

ISBN13: 9780099273783
Format: Paperback / softback
Number of Pages: 160
Edition:
Publication Date: 05 Feb 1999
Publisher: Vintage Publishing
Publication City, Country: London, United Kingdom
Dimensions (cm): 19.8(H)x12.9(L)x0.9(W)117
Weight (gm): 117

Author Biography

David Malouf is an internationally acclaimed author. His books include the novels The Great World (winner of the Commonwealth Writers' prize and the Prix Femina tranger), Remembering Babylon (shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize and winner of the IMPAC Dublin Literary Award), An Imaginary Life, Conversations at Curlow Creek, and his latest, Ransom (winner of the Criticos Prize), the short story collections Dream Stuff ('These stories are pearls' Spectator), and Every Move You Make ('Rare and luminous talent' Guardian), and his autobiographical classic 12 Edmondstone Street. His Collected Stories won the 2008 Australia-Asia Literary Award. In 2008 Malouf was the Scottish Arts' Council Muriel Spark International Fellow. Born in 1934 in Brisbane, he now lives in Sydney.

Reviews

Malouf's perceptions are deep and his use of language quite wonderful -- Ian Buruma