Sumner Locke Elliott Book order

October 17, 1917 – June 24, 1991

This Australian author gained renown for his novels, which often drew from his own childhood and pre-war Australian experiences. Despite an increasing readership in Australia, he remained uncomfortable in his native country, partly due to his homosexuality, which marked him as different during his youth. His work is characterized by a penetrating examination of personal experience and societal context.

2014
Fairyland
336 pages
12 hours of reading
3.8(27)Add rating
Set against the backdrop of 1930s and 40s Sydney, the narrative explores the journey of a writer grappling with his homosexuality in a repressive society. Through semi-autobiographical elements, the story delves into themes of identity, acceptance, and the struggles faced by LGBTQ individuals during a time of societal constraints. The protagonist's experiences illuminate the challenges of love and self-discovery in a world that often stifles personal truth.
2012
Careful, He Might Hear You
512 pages
18 hours of reading
4.2(51)Add rating
‘Oh, aren’t you lucky, PS.’ ‘Goodness, what a lucky boy.’ ‘What a treat!’ ‘Your Aunt Vanessa is coming.’ Vanessa was coming all the way from England back to Australia and she was coming on a piano boat. It’s the Great Depression. Six-year-old PS is an orphan. He lives in Sydney with his Aunt Lila. But all that is about to change. Now his Aunt Vanessa has decided to take proper care of him. Careful, He Might Hear You is one of the most extraordinary portraits of childhood in Australian fiction.

Fairyland

Careful, He Might Hear You