‘This is a dark tale, told with surprising humour.’ New Yorker
This is Albion Gidley Singer at the pen, a man with a weakness for a good fact. The first fact is always the hardest: you have to begin somewhere, and such is the nature of this intractable universe that the only thing you can start with is yourself.
Dark Places, a companion novel to Lilian’s Story, is the tale of a man with a comically grand exterior who believes he has the right, and the duty, to conquer the mocking flesh of any woman. Even his own daughter.
Winner, Victorian Premier’s Literary Award, 1995.
‘A compelling narrative, rendered with compassion.’ Newsday
‘The ambition behind it is met at almost every point by Grenville’s talent: unmistakable voice, solid intelligence, beautiful sharp language.’ Sunday Age
‘A ventriloqual tour de force.’ Sydney Morning Herald
‘Dark Places trumps most of Grenville’s other books and proves that she is one of Australia’s top authors. A companion volume to Lilian’s Story, this is the dark tale of Lillian’s father whose abuse led to her madness. This sensitively told story places Sydney in its historical context and unpacks the sins of our fathers in a visceral way.’ Brisbane Sunday Mail
Kate Grenville is one of Australia’s finest writers. Her bestselling novel The Secret River has been published in more than twenty countries. It has received numerous awards, including the Commonwealth Writers’ Prize and was shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize and the Miles Franklin Literary Award. The companion memoir, Searching for the Secret River, was released in 2006.
The Idea of Perfection won Britain’s prestigious Orange Prize for Fiction, and her other novels include Sarah Thornhill, The Lieutenant, Lilian’s Story, Dark Places and Joan Makes History.
As well as her novels and a collection of short stories, Grenville has published three books about the writing process, one co-written with novelist Sue Woolfe. The Writing Book, Writing From Start to Finish and Making Stories have become classics both for writing classes and individuals. Grenville has also written a memoir, Searching for The Secret River, an account of the research and writing of the novel for which she’s best-known.
The Lieutenant, The Secret River, and her most recent novel, Sarah Thornhill together make up The Colonial Trilogy, novels which explore Australia’s often troubled past.
Grenville was born in Sydney and has lived in the UK, France and the USA. She has been awarded many honours, including an Honorary Doctor of Letters from the University of NSW. For many years she taught Creative Writing in universities, but she now writes full-time. In her leisure hours she enjoys attempting to play the cello in an amateur orchestra and a string quartet. She lives in Sydney with her family.
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