In the wake of first contact : the Eliza Fraser stories / Kay Schaffer.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Schaffer, Kay, 1945-

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Fraser, Eliza Anne.

Australian literature--History and criticism.

Australian literature.

Fraser, Eliza Anne--In literature.

First contact (Anthropology)--Australia.

First contact (Anthropology).

Literature and history--Australia--History.

Literature and history.

Aboriginal Australians in literature.

Race in literature.

Women and literature--Australia--History--19th century.

Women and literature.

Literature, Modern--History and criticism.

Literature, Modern.

Fraser, Eliza Anne--In art.

History.

Historiography.

Australia--History--1788-1851--Historiography.

Australia.

Physical Description:

xvi, 320 pages : illustrations ; 24 cm

Place of Publication:

Cambridge ; New York : Cambridge University Press, 1995.

Summary:

Eliza Fraser was an English woman shipwrecked on the Australian coast in 1836, where she lived with an Aboriginal community until her rescue. The story of a 'civilised' white female being taken captive by 'savage' black men was both fascinating and repulsive. Images and narratives surrounding this notorious episode have proliferated from the 1830s to the present. Kay Schaffer looks at the various literary and artistic manifestations of Eliza Fraser as a fictional presence in Australian culture. Schaffer looks at the contemporary narratives, and at more recent representations of Mrs Fraser in film, in the art of Sidney Nolan, and the writing of Patrick White. The book uses these texts to examine historical discourses of colonialism, race, gender, and nation. This accessible and stimulating book promises to make an impressive contribution to women's studies, cultural studies, and Australian history.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN:

0521495776

0521499208

OCLC:

32429903