Geoffrey Firmin
Distinguished Member
- Joined
- Dec 4, 2010
- Messages
- 8,609
- Reaction score
- 4,146
56 SHELL by Kristina Olsson
This is a complex story about Australia between Autumn 1965 and February 1966 in which the Opera House,Conscription, filial love and glass art perform their own opera.
Utzon the architect of the Opera House is this invisible presence who is everywhere and nowhere as the sails stretch over the harbour. Underneath are the philistines of the Askin Liberal Country Party government who are waging war against Utzon and his vision, determined to cut a tall poppy down.
Its also about changes in society and the trauma that conscription imposed upon Australia. And the people with the courage to stand against the absurdity of the Vietnam war.
Its strongest story arc IMHO is centred on the Swedish glass artist as he strives to conceive and create an artwork which will do justice to the majesty of the Opera House. By far this is the best description I’ve evert read of the creative process from conception to actualisation I’ve ever read.
One of the best works of Australian fiction I’ve read in a long time.
This is a complex story about Australia between Autumn 1965 and February 1966 in which the Opera House,Conscription, filial love and glass art perform their own opera.
Utzon the architect of the Opera House is this invisible presence who is everywhere and nowhere as the sails stretch over the harbour. Underneath are the philistines of the Askin Liberal Country Party government who are waging war against Utzon and his vision, determined to cut a tall poppy down.
Its also about changes in society and the trauma that conscription imposed upon Australia. And the people with the courage to stand against the absurdity of the Vietnam war.
Its strongest story arc IMHO is centred on the Swedish glass artist as he strives to conceive and create an artwork which will do justice to the majesty of the Opera House. By far this is the best description I’ve evert read of the creative process from conception to actualisation I’ve ever read.
One of the best works of Australian fiction I’ve read in a long time.
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