The Bay Of Contented Men

by Robert Drewe

Librarian's Note: this is an alternate cover edition for ISBN 0330270923 (ISBN13: 9780330270922).

The Bay Of Contented Men ranges in location from east to west coast Australia, to the United States, Japan and Hong Kong. This is the neighbourhood of edgy suburbanite Australians whose desires and misadventures are conjured here into intriguing fictions. Robert Drewe's characters face the confrontations of gender, race and generations with an ironic desperation born of love, lust and wistful memory.

Contents
Radiant Heat
Machete
The First Motel
Mandalay
River Water
The Lawyers of Africa
The Needle 'Story'
All the Boys
Sister
Life of a Barbarian
The Hammett Spiel
The Bay of Contented Men

Genres: Short Stories, 20th Century, Fiction

212 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1989

About the author

Robert Drewe is among Australia’s most loved writers – of novels, memoir and short stories. His iconic Australian books include The Shark Net, The Bodysurfers and Our Sunshine. He is also editor of Black Inc.’s Best Australian Stories annual series. Recently, he has revisited the short story himself, with a masterful new collection, The Rip. Jo Case spoke to him for Readings about storytelling.

Reviews

[Jane · Rating 2 out of 5]

I think if I hadn't just read another book of short stories I would probably have enjoyed it more as I enjoyed The Drowner. I just find it irritating that you just get what's going on and then the story ends and I didn't understand the last story at all. Drewe makes some astute observations of people and situations but I guess I just wasn't in the mood!

[Anne · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was disappointing. I really couldn't get into most of the stories and some of them were downright perplexing. The last story is a complete mystery to me!

[Lucy Honan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Delightful book of short stories

[Ilram Esron]

an intriguing title for which I am yet to discover the true meaning. It evokes an image of the Sydney Harbour bays replete with tanned Nudist men.
I love the idea of a such a bay.

[Richard · Rating 2 out of 5]

Somewhat interesting and informative about Australian life but otherwise perplexing with abrupt conclusions and disjointed narratives. Not recommended.