Blueback (novel)
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 First edition (publ. Pan Macmillan) | |
| Author | Tim Winton |
|---|---|
Publication date | March 1, 1998 |
| Pages | 151pp |
| ISBN | 978-0-684-84565-4 |
Blueback is a short novel by the Australian author Tim Winton. First published in 1997, it has since been translated into Italian, Dutch and Japanese.[1]
Winton explained,
I don't know whether books like Blueback make a difference, but in an innocent way, it's discussing these things - we have been taking from the sea and the land for so long, it's time for us to give something back. "I feel very specifically that I benefited from growing up where I did, where so much revolved around the sea - in a way, it was a gift and I owe it something. If the sea is ultimately where we come from, and it seems we did, then it's our source, our ancestral life and we are obliged to nourish it.[2]
Reception
Reviews
In a brief review published as part of a round-up of recently published books, Michelle Hamer in The Sydney Morning Herald commented: "Winton doesn't mess around in this beautifully crafted text. He has a story to tell and wades right in, conjuring up delightful imagery along the way."[3]
Alexa Dretzke reviewed,
We have a boy who loves the sea. It is his boy and part of his family's past. He loves a big, old fish that swims with him and he loves his mother, who taught him the ways of the sea and how to respect Winton's homage to a landscape he hopes will prevail. This is a superb modern Australian classic for every child and adult.[4]
