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Sea Green
A stunning and unforgettable novel about the pursuit of a creative and independent life, Barbara Hanrahan’s Sea Green is an Australian feminist classic. With a new introduction from Laura Elizabeth Woollett.
Virginia is on a ship bound for London, lured by her creative dreams, leaving behind her weeping mother and father in Adelaide. On the cocoon-like journey she is struck by the messiness of relationships and her uncontrollable body. But things on the other side of the world are no neater, as she is pulled between her conservative expectations and her magnetic internal life.
In innovative poetic prose, artist and author Barbara Hanrahan plunges us into the possibility-filled London of her youth while reflecting the all-but-unchanged experience of finding independence as a creative woman. Originally published in 1974, Sea Green was inspired by Hanrahan’s experiences, but has a life and immediacy all its own.
This jewel-like new edition, featuring an introduction from Stella Prize–longlisted author Laura Elizabeth Woollett and Hanrahan’s own distinctive artwork, re-establishes Sea Green’s place in hearts and minds.
‘An artistic coming-of-age novel like no other. Barbara Hanrahan is as wonderfully idiosyncratic a writer as she is as a visual artist, her prose both extravagant and frank. I hope this book will be remembered as a modern classic.’ – Laura Elizabeth Woollett
Virginia is on a ship bound for London, lured by her creative dreams, leaving behind her weeping mother and father in Adelaide. On the cocoon-like journey she is struck by the messiness of relationships and her uncontrollable body. But things on the other side of the world are no neater, as she is pulled between her conservative expectations and her magnetic internal life.
In innovative poetic prose, artist and author Barbara Hanrahan plunges us into the possibility-filled London of her youth while reflecting the all-but-unchanged experience of finding independence as a creative woman. Originally published in 1974, Sea Green was inspired by Hanrahan’s experiences, but has a life and immediacy all its own.
This jewel-like new edition, featuring an introduction from Stella Prize–longlisted author Laura Elizabeth Woollett and Hanrahan’s own distinctive artwork, re-establishes Sea Green’s place in hearts and minds.
‘An artistic coming-of-age novel like no other. Barbara Hanrahan is as wonderfully idiosyncratic a writer as she is as a visual artist, her prose both extravagant and frank. I hope this book will be remembered as a modern classic.’ – Laura Elizabeth Woollett
- GenresLiteratureFiction
Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1974
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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).
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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
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
April 16, 2025
A beautiful novel about a young woman travelling from Adelaide to London to pursue a career as an artist. Written with an artist’s eye for a scene - the real details but also the imagined - in rich, textured prose. Interesting in form as she moves between first and third person and we spend the first half on the ship with Virginia and Kate, giving the book a timeless quality. The intimacy and honest reminded me of Sally Rooney and Elena Ferrante.
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September 6, 2025This story reminded me in some ways of Hanrahan’s art, not so much the still life’s but her images of people. She has a unique way of seeing and depicting the world, at once slightly discomforting and appealing. I didn’t know much about her beyond her prints before reading this and would now like to learn more.
January 25, 2025
Dense almost poetic style - some great imagery. I wish Virginia was more assertive - she was so innocent.
July 23, 2025
Profoundly beautiful and so depressing. What a great read! I picked this up from the book store without looking at the blurb. The cover was cool and Im so glad I kept it, I was going to put it back before I purchased
March 29, 2025
Slow to start. Vivid and feverish throughout.
April 24, 2025
Virginia lives in Adelaide, South Australia and is studying to be an artist. Unsatisfied with her life, she travels with a friend by passenger ship to England to pursue her artistic career. As she makes her way, you learn about her struggles to make art, to form relationships and to understand her own identity.
What you are taken on is a poetic journey of words and images that just consumes you. For a novel of about 200 pages, I was tagging quotes everywhere as the writing is lush but sparse. By that I mean every word is placed to perfection and it is rich. The descriptions of people and places is evocative and sharp. The only struggle is coming to terms with the change of perspective, sometimes it third person other times first person. Once you fall into the rhythm, you are hooked.
This was my first foray into the writing of Hanrahan’s and certainly will not be the last.
What you are taken on is a poetic journey of words and images that just consumes you. For a novel of about 200 pages, I was tagging quotes everywhere as the writing is lush but sparse. By that I mean every word is placed to perfection and it is rich. The descriptions of people and places is evocative and sharp. The only struggle is coming to terms with the change of perspective, sometimes it third person other times first person. Once you fall into the rhythm, you are hooked.
This was my first foray into the writing of Hanrahan’s and certainly will not be the last.
Read
January 24, 2026really interesting… there aren’t many “classic” books from south australia and it was interesting to see how this one was missed in the zeitgeist. the language is quite abstract, almost poetic, and the patchwork narrative can often come across as quite confusing and overly fluid. however, the story, analysis of twin selves and watching your own life from the outside is fascinating, quite Woolfian in a sense. really enjoyed it even though it’s not your traditional heroine seeks adventure novel. the prose was almost as frenetic as hanrahan’s artistic praxis which was quite enjoyable.
April 9, 2014
Very early Hanrahan; a bit too abstract for me
July 29, 2025
I honestly picked this up because the cover was gorgeous— but I couldn’t have found a more special book.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews