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Thomas Keneally: I rejoice that Richard Flanagan has got the acclaim he deserves Thomas Keneally: I rejoice that Richard Flanagan has got the acclaim he deserves
(17 days later)
We all know prizes are a lottery. But in the lottery of the Man Booker, Richard Flanagan did not only have a ticket. He had the best ticket. The jury saw it, and punched it for him. His book had been declared the best novel in the English-speaking world.We all know prizes are a lottery. But in the lottery of the Man Booker, Richard Flanagan did not only have a ticket. He had the best ticket. The jury saw it, and punched it for him. His book had been declared the best novel in the English-speaking world.
The Narrow Road to the Deep North is indeed a stellar book and few would argue with that claim. It is a book full of significance, but very accessible – Flanagan has a gift for being brisk at narrative, but also for conveying serious and complex ideas painlessly. Unlike most of us, he doesn’t overwrite scenes. I envy his economies, his poetics and his capacity to play with time – time being the servant of Richard’s novels, not their linear master.The Narrow Road to the Deep North is indeed a stellar book and few would argue with that claim. It is a book full of significance, but very accessible – Flanagan has a gift for being brisk at narrative, but also for conveying serious and complex ideas painlessly. Unlike most of us, he doesn’t overwrite scenes. I envy his economies, his poetics and his capacity to play with time – time being the servant of Richard’s novels, not their linear master.
When he won the other night, he must have felt shock and validation in one vast wave. Kiran Desai, who won the Man Booker in 2006 for her masterpiece The Inheritance of Loss, said that until then she had felt like a dilettante, but that her first joyous thought at hearing her name was, “I mustbe a novelist, because even they think I’m a novelist.” When he won the other night, he must have felt shock and validation in one vast wave. Kiran Desai, who won the Man Booker in 2006 for her masterpiece The Inheritance of Loss, said that until then she had felt like a dilettante, but that her first joyous thought at hearing her name was, “I must be a novelist, because even they think I’m a novelist.”
Long ago, I felt the announcement of my Booker like an electric shock, and Peter Carey described his two Bookers as like being hit by a bus. But it is an electricity many a writer would like to have up his spine, a bus many would lie down before.Long ago, I felt the announcement of my Booker like an electric shock, and Peter Carey described his two Bookers as like being hit by a bus. But it is an electricity many a writer would like to have up his spine, a bus many would lie down before.
And when a friend wins it, one forgets that other nominees, indeed anyone else published in the second half of 2014, will be overshadowed by The Narrow Road and its genial Vandemonian author. We simply celebrate for him and for his utterly earned good fortune.And when a friend wins it, one forgets that other nominees, indeed anyone else published in the second half of 2014, will be overshadowed by The Narrow Road and its genial Vandemonian author. We simply celebrate for him and for his utterly earned good fortune.
Now that the bus has arrived at Richard’s stop, he can expect that his future will be secure, particularly since he is wise enough to make the right choices. Security is so important because, as I heard him say in one report, he had been thinking of taking work in Western Australian mines. This would have been a tragic situation.Now that the bus has arrived at Richard’s stop, he can expect that his future will be secure, particularly since he is wise enough to make the right choices. Security is so important because, as I heard him say in one report, he had been thinking of taking work in Western Australian mines. This would have been a tragic situation.
The hard truth is that being a writer is in economic terms like being a primary producer. Income is intermittent and cannot be predicted. As we support worthy primary producers, we should also find a structure of support for artists in the situation Richard then faced – mid-career, a quality novelist, a man of international repute, but strapped for liquidity.The hard truth is that being a writer is in economic terms like being a primary producer. Income is intermittent and cannot be predicted. As we support worthy primary producers, we should also find a structure of support for artists in the situation Richard then faced – mid-career, a quality novelist, a man of international repute, but strapped for liquidity.
Books, even more than pregnancies, take as long as they take. But a novel, like a crop, will create further employment for others – for publishers, printers, binders, booksellers, and then on into the various crafts of film and television production, as will no doubt be the future of this harrowing, authentic tale, Narrow Road.As well as that, we have a book whose impact on minds is ineffable and imponderable, and it pays its way in those immeasurable terms above all. Books, even more than pregnancies, take as long as they take. But a novel, like a crop, will create further employment for others – for publishers, printers, binders, booksellers, and then on into the various crafts of film and television production, as will no doubt be the future of this harrowing, authentic tale, Narrow Road. As well as that, we have a book whose impact on minds is ineffable and imponderable, and it pays its way in those immeasurable terms above all.
So now, Richard can relish his good fortune. He has done the job for us and himself. He can survive as a writer for the term of his life and the span of his work. A good outcome!So now, Richard can relish his good fortune. He has done the job for us and himself. He can survive as a writer for the term of his life and the span of his work. A good outcome!
And with his amiable nature, obvious wisdom and urbanity, he should be able to do what we all blush about saying but very much wish for, that is, sell container-loads of books. I believe Narrow Road is going into its third printing in the US already, and now it should go into many more.And with his amiable nature, obvious wisdom and urbanity, he should be able to do what we all blush about saying but very much wish for, that is, sell container-loads of books. I believe Narrow Road is going into its third printing in the US already, and now it should go into many more.
He will of course for ever more have to put up with the banner “Booker Prize Winner for Narrow Road to the Deep North” on the covers of his books, and he will sometimes secretly think, “Let the poor bloody book speak for itself!” But since this novel is one anyone should be proud to claim, it should not cause him too much discomfort.He will of course for ever more have to put up with the banner “Booker Prize Winner for Narrow Road to the Deep North” on the covers of his books, and he will sometimes secretly think, “Let the poor bloody book speak for itself!” But since this novel is one anyone should be proud to claim, it should not cause him too much discomfort.
I rejoice that a fine novelist has got the acclaim he deserves – it doesn’t always happen. As for his future work, it is certain that it won’t alter the way he writes, and that he can concentrate on his novels in joy and with a measure of security from now on. Believe it or not, and despite all the clichéd assumptions about garrets, etc, security is good for creativity, and poverty’s bad.I rejoice that a fine novelist has got the acclaim he deserves – it doesn’t always happen. As for his future work, it is certain that it won’t alter the way he writes, and that he can concentrate on his novels in joy and with a measure of security from now on. Believe it or not, and despite all the clichéd assumptions about garrets, etc, security is good for creativity, and poverty’s bad.
Should the semi-accident of a grand prize be relied on to breathe new life into the cause of Australian writers and writing? Why not? Richard, you’ve done a new generation of writers favours through your books. And now you’ve refreshed their claim for attention.Should the semi-accident of a grand prize be relied on to breathe new life into the cause of Australian writers and writing? Why not? Richard, you’ve done a new generation of writers favours through your books. And now you’ve refreshed their claim for attention.
And since you’re a grand party animal, enjoy your party!And since you’re a grand party animal, enjoy your party!