What do you think?
Rate this book
Where The Queens All Stayed
This elegant and disturbing novel follows a young girl's coming-of-age in the Adelaide Hills just after the turn of the century. Thea Hodge, aged twelve, knows that young ladies should be pretty, demure and nice, but what is she to make of the mysterious and sensual Rina, the exotic sisters Love and Mercy, and her own sister Meg, whose plans for marriage and conformity go horribly wrong?
Paperback
First published January 1, 1978
19 people want to read
About the author
Barbara Hanrahan
19 books8 followersHanrahan, Barbara Janice (1939 - 1991)
Archival/Heritage Resources Published Resources
Barbara Hanrahan was an artist, printmaker and writer. She was born in Adelaide in 1939 and lived there until her death in December 1991. Hanrahan spent three years at the South Australian School of Art before leaving for London in 1966 to continue her art studies. In England she taught at the Falmouth College of Art, Cornwall, (1966-67) and Portsmouth College of Art (1967-70). From 1964 Hanrahan held a number of exhibitions principally in Adelaide and Sydney, but also in Brisbane, Canberra, Perth, London and Florence. Hanrahan's novels include The Scent of Eucalyptus (1973), The Peach Groves (1980), The Frangipani Gardens (1988) and Flawless Jade (1989).
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Career Highlights
URL: The home page for this entity is located at http://www.history.sa.gov.au/history/...
Barbara Hanrahan was educated at Thebarton Girls' Technical College before commencing a three year Art Teaching course at Adelaide Teachers' College. At the same time she completed art classes at the South Australian School of Art. Following the completion of her Diploma of Art Teaching, Hanrahan began teaching art in schools as well as enrolling for evening classes with the newly established Printmaking Department at the South Australian School of Art. In 1961 she was appointed assistant lecturer in Art at Western Teachers' College, Adelaide. In the same year she participated in a four-artist exhibition at the Hahndorf Gallery, and was awarded the Cornell Prize for Painting. She taught at the South Australian School of Art from 1963-66.
Hanrahan left for London in 1966 to continue her art studies. She taught at the Falmouth College of Art, Cornwall, (1966-67) and Portsmouth College of Art (1967-70). In the early 1980s Hanrahan, with her partner Jo Steele, returned to live in Adelaide, where she established her own studio. Hanrahan's writing career began in 1973 with the publication of her first, largely autobiographical, novel The Scent of Eucalyptus. Other titles soon followed and her last novel, Good night, Mr Moon, was published posthumously in 1992.
During her life Hanrahan held a number of exhibitions nationally and internationally. Her works are held by the Australian National Gallery, Canberra, and many regional galleries.
Sources used to compile this entry: refereces
Archival/Heritage Resources Published Resources
Barbara Hanrahan was an artist, printmaker and writer. She was born in Adelaide in 1939 and lived there until her death in December 1991. Hanrahan spent three years at the South Australian School of Art before leaving for London in 1966 to continue her art studies. In England she taught at the Falmouth College of Art, Cornwall, (1966-67) and Portsmouth College of Art (1967-70). From 1964 Hanrahan held a number of exhibitions principally in Adelaide and Sydney, but also in Brisbane, Canberra, Perth, London and Florence. Hanrahan's novels include The Scent of Eucalyptus (1973), The Peach Groves (1980), The Frangipani Gardens (1988) and Flawless Jade (1989).
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Career Highlights
URL: The home page for this entity is located at http://www.history.sa.gov.au/history/...
Barbara Hanrahan was educated at Thebarton Girls' Technical College before commencing a three year Art Teaching course at Adelaide Teachers' College. At the same time she completed art classes at the South Australian School of Art. Following the completion of her Diploma of Art Teaching, Hanrahan began teaching art in schools as well as enrolling for evening classes with the newly established Printmaking Department at the South Australian School of Art. In 1961 she was appointed assistant lecturer in Art at Western Teachers' College, Adelaide. In the same year she participated in a four-artist exhibition at the Hahndorf Gallery, and was awarded the Cornell Prize for Painting. She taught at the South Australian School of Art from 1963-66.
Hanrahan left for London in 1966 to continue her art studies. She taught at the Falmouth College of Art, Cornwall, (1966-67) and Portsmouth College of Art (1967-70). In the early 1980s Hanrahan, with her partner Jo Steele, returned to live in Adelaide, where she established her own studio. Hanrahan's writing career began in 1973 with the publication of her first, largely autobiographical, novel The Scent of Eucalyptus. Other titles soon followed and her last novel, Good night, Mr Moon, was published posthumously in 1992.
During her life Hanrahan held a number of exhibitions nationally and internationally. Her works are held by the Australian National Gallery, Canberra, and many regional galleries.
Sources used to compile this entry: refereces
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
September 9, 2021
I owe a debt of gratitude to Brenton who, in a comment from 2005, recommended the novels of Barbara Hanrahan (1939-1991) to me. Where the Queens all Strayed (1978) was her fourth novel and for me, after
A Chelsea Girl
(1987) it's the second one that I've read. I keep looking out for her books (when we're not in Lockdown, that is, and I can haunt the OpShops) and so far have amassed The Albatross Muff (1977); The Peach Groves (1980); and The Frangipani Gardens (1988). I have yet to find the one that Brenton recommended, which was her first novel, The Scent of Eucalyptus (1973) but no doubt there is a copy out there somewhere with my name on it!
Anyway, Hanrahan was just the author that I wanted to read after the emotionally draining experience of reading The Woman in Valencia (La femme de Valence) , by Annie Perreault, translated by Ann Marie Boulanger. I wanted to read a novel featuring assertive women who took control of their lives, and Where the Queens all Strayed seemed like a title with promise. I wasn't disappointed.
Where the Queens all Strayed is a coming-of-age novel set at the turn of the 19th century. Thea Hodge, aged twelve, is the narrator and though she doesn't always understand what's going on, she is a keen observer of her family and the people of her small community in the Adelaide Hills. She has an older sister Meg who is the victim of her mother's fantasy about snaring the local posh boy, Teddy Teakle. Thea has doubts about this, because her father is from a dubious Adelaide suburb and she suspects that the Teakles, made rich by their jam factory, are unlikely to be conned into 'marrying down' even by Mother's best efforts at dressing Meg in finery. (Teddy is entranced enough, however, to cause Meg the kind of trouble that girls got into before birth control, but not entranced enough to marry her.)
But that's not the only straying that Meg does...
To read the rest of my review please visit https://anzlitlovers.com/2021/09/09/w...
Anyway, Hanrahan was just the author that I wanted to read after the emotionally draining experience of reading The Woman in Valencia (La femme de Valence) , by Annie Perreault, translated by Ann Marie Boulanger. I wanted to read a novel featuring assertive women who took control of their lives, and Where the Queens all Strayed seemed like a title with promise. I wasn't disappointed.
Where the Queens all Strayed is a coming-of-age novel set at the turn of the 19th century. Thea Hodge, aged twelve, is the narrator and though she doesn't always understand what's going on, she is a keen observer of her family and the people of her small community in the Adelaide Hills. She has an older sister Meg who is the victim of her mother's fantasy about snaring the local posh boy, Teddy Teakle. Thea has doubts about this, because her father is from a dubious Adelaide suburb and she suspects that the Teakles, made rich by their jam factory, are unlikely to be conned into 'marrying down' even by Mother's best efforts at dressing Meg in finery. (Teddy is entranced enough, however, to cause Meg the kind of trouble that girls got into before birth control, but not entranced enough to marry her.)
But that's not the only straying that Meg does...
To read the rest of my review please visit https://anzlitlovers.com/2021/09/09/w...
December 17, 2021
Very well done. Told from point off view of young girl living in the Adelaide hills. Great sense of time and space. Fascinating exploration of awakening into reality. Trying to make sense of observed relationships. She watches the fascinating complicated people around her… coming to terms with the world and trying to make sense of it in a time when nothing is discussed or admitted: From an abusive teacher, a psychopathic interloper, a pregnant sister, lesbian liaisons, she tries to find her own reality and pathway .
Part of the Untapped collection of out of print Australian books available from Overdrive or. Borrowbox with library card..
Part of the Untapped collection of out of print Australian books available from Overdrive or. Borrowbox with library card..
June 6, 2024
I am rating this novel higher than my enjoyment of it, just for the unique way it was written - with its quirky style that shifts quickly from scene to scene, and thought to thought; never lingering long on a single point of focus.
There was a very good understanding of life in the Adelaide Hills in the early 1900's, thirty years before the author was born.
I think this is cleverly written, but I don't feel everyone will appreciate it fully, myself included.
There was a very good understanding of life in the Adelaide Hills in the early 1900's, thirty years before the author was born.
I think this is cleverly written, but I don't feel everyone will appreciate it fully, myself included.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews