The Broken Book

(Paperback)

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Description

Both very Australian and resoundingly international, The Broken Book confirms Johnson's status as one of the finest Australian writers . fiercely beautiful.' - The Australian

Katherine Elgin grew up in a small coastal town in Australia, desperate to transcend her beginnings and make her mark. From her rebellious and contemplative childhood Katherine emerges as a stunningly beautiful young woman, with a voracious appetite for life's most interesting experiences and an overwhelming desire to write the best book she possibly can.

But beauty is a double-edged sword and throughout her life - from Sydney, to London, to the islands of Greece - Katherine carries the burden of being both siren and artist.

Mirroring truths of art and life, creativity and reality, The Broken Book is wonderfully rich, complex and compelling. Susan Johnson has created an audacious and original novel with an awe-inspiring ability to explore emotional truths.

Reviews

A novel of great creative and emotional perspicacity that conveys in equal measure the vivaciousness and tragedy of Clift's life.' - Catherine Keenan, Sun HeraldBoth very Australian and resoundingly international, The Broken Bookconfirms Johnson's status as one of the finest Australian writers ... The language is as graphic and taboo-breaking as it is philosophical and often, fiercely beautiful.' - Jane Cornwell, Sydney Morning Herald... an imaginative work, deftly breathed into, transforming fact into myth' - Sara Dowse, Canberra Times

Author Bio

Susan Johnson was shortlisted for the 1991 Victorian Premier's Literary Award for her novel Flying Lessons (Heinemann 1990), shortlisted for the 1994 National Book Council's Banjo Award for the novel A Big Life (Pan Macmillan 1993) and shortlisted for the National Biography Award 2000 for her memoir A Better Woman (Random House 1999). Her other books include Hungry Ghosts (Pan Macmillan 1996), Messages from Chaos (Harper and Row 1987), Womenlovesex (Random House, 1997 editor and contributor). The Broken Book was shortlisted for the 2005 Nita B Kibble Award; the Best Fiction Book section of the Queensland Premier's Literary Award; the Westfield/Waverley Library Literary Award, and the Australian Literary Society Gold Medal Award for an Outstanding Australian Literary Work.