Jump to content

The Drowner

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Drowner
First edition
AuthorRobert Drewe
LanguageEnglish
Genrenovel
PublisherPan Macmillan, Australia
Publication date
1996
Publication placeAustralia
Media typePrint (Hardback & Paperback)
Pages329
ISBN0732908582
Preceded byOur Sunshine 
Followed byGrace 

The Drowner (1996) is a novel by Australian author Robert Drewe.[1]

It was shortlisted for Miles Franklin Award, and won the Vance Palmer Prize for Fiction and New South Wales Premier's Literary Awards — Book of the Year in 1997.

Plot summary

[edit]

In the late 19th century an Englishman irrigator or "drowner", Will Dance, utilises ancient water-knowledge and modern technology to save a drought-ridden town in Western Australia.

Reviews

[edit]
  • Publishers' Weekly noted: "The desert mining town,..., comes fully to life, invigorated by crisp and moving portrayals of Drewe's minor characters and the monotonous beauty of the hostile (blessedly arid) countryside."[2]
  • Garth Crawford in Woroni stated: "In his mastery of image, and spare but beautiful descriptions of this quest, Drewe reveals his strongest claim to pre-eminence. The Drowner is by an author who enjoys words, weighs and places each without mistaking linguistic asceticism for aestheticism."[3]

Awards and nominations

[edit]

Notes

[edit]

A film adaptation of the novel was reportedly arranging funding in 2010,[7] and in pre-production in 2013. Directed by Jeff Darling from a screenplay by Justin Monjo, Producers Michael Boughen and Matthew Street, Production Company: Ambience Entertainment The Drowner: A story of love, passion, madness, death, and human frailty

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "The Drowner by Robert Drewe". National Library of Australia. Retrieved 3 July 2024.
  2. ^ "The Drowner, Robert Drewe, author", Publishers' Weekly
  3. ^ "The Drowner - Robert Drewe" by Garth Crawford, Woroni, 10 October 1996
  4. ^ a b ""Novelist Drewe carries off a big prize at last"". Sydney Morning Herald, 18 September 1997. ProQuest 363360979. Retrieved 3 July 2024.
  5. ^ ""The Vance Palmer Prize for Fiction 1997-1999"". Austlit. Retrieved 3 July 2024.
  6. ^ a b "Adelaide Festival Awards for Literature – Past Literary Award Winners". State Library of South Australia. Retrieved 3 July 2024.
  7. ^ ""Film in vogue as investment option"". The West Australian, 20 March 2010. Retrieved 3 July 2024.