Sharply observed, bitter and humorous, The Long Prospect is a story of life in an Australian industrial town. Growing up neglected in a seedy boarding house, twelve-year-old Emily Lawrence befriends Max, a middle-aged scientist who encourages her to pursue her intellectual interests. Innocent Emily will face scandal, suburban snobbery and psychological torment.
Originally published in 1958,
The Long Prospect was described as ranking second only to Patrick White's
Voss in postwar Australian literature. This edition has an introduction by Fiona McGregor.
Elizabeth Harrower was born in Sydney in 1928. Her first novel,
Down in the City, was published in 1957, followed by
The Long Prospect a year later. In 1960 she published
The Catherine Wheel, the story of an Australian law student in London.
The Watch Tower appeared in 1966. She is without doubt among the most important writers of the postwar period in Australia.
Fiona McGregor is the author of five books, her most recent novel
Indelible Ink winning the
Age Book of the Year award. She writes essays and reviews, and is working on another novel. She is internationally known as a performance artist, completing the epic
Water Series at Artspace, Sydney, in 2011. fionamcgregor.com
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