Glass After Glass

by Barbara Blackman

‘Glass after Glass introduces us to the secret and fascinating world of Barbara Blackman … she has used her blindness as a shortcut to a world of wonder that many of us fail to see.’ — Betty Churcher AO, former director, National Gallery of Australia

A vivid, generous delightful memoir of family, friends, writing, art, bohemia, blindness, poverty, prosperity and love of life from acclaimed poet and writer Barbara Blackman.

‘Brightness and sunshine pour from every page of this book. The brightness of the spirit, informed by love and nourished by the enchantment of everyday life … it is a mad, beautiful book full of dreams and fancies and homely realities and idealism … when you have finished reading it you will be a happier person than you were before you began’ — The Canberra Times

First published in 1997, Glass after Glass was shortlisted for the Nita Kibble Literary Award the following year.

Barbara Blackman AO is a poet and writer. She’s a patron of the arts and has been actively involved in supporting the blind, including the formation of the National Federation of Blind Citizens. ‘Seeing from Within’, a documentary about her life, was released in 2017.

Genres: Biography

420 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 1997

About the author

Barbara Blackman was an Australian writer and essayist, poet, librettist, broadcaster, model and philanthropist, who was a patron of the arts.

Reviews

[Clare Bear · Rating 4 out of 5]

Barbara Blackman is said to be her ex-husband, Charles Blackman, an Australian modernist painter's muse and inspiration for his famous 'Alice in Wonderland' series, with the large blue eyes of Alice mirroring his wife's degenerative blindness.

Her book of her life, her love of words and art and people and life, made me appreciate my life, and inspired me artistically.

[Jeremy Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful book by a dear friend. More a collection of autobiographical essays than a conventional memoir.

[Chris Waterford · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a series of essays about the author's life. The first half was a bit of a dog's breakfast but the second half had some wonderful chapters including "Portrait of a Friendship" and "Days of Wine and Roses".
6.5/10

[John · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved this memoir , Thank you Ms B
"So pure the wine
So clear the glass
Sometimes I see the glass and no wine
Sometimes I see the wine and no glass"
RUMI