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An Angel in Australia
Sydney, 1942, the year of the fall of Singapore, the bombing of Darwin and the surprise attack on Sydney Harbour by Japanese midget submarines. Surely Australia is doomed to fall to the Japanese. In the confessional, Father Frank Darragh hears how his community is changing -- how the very real fear of invasion is leading people to challenge the teaching of the Church. Especially vulnerable are those women whose husbands have been captured. Facing the future alone and unprotected, they are at risk of succumbing to the charms of more subtle invaders -- American servicemen. When one of Father Darragh's 'fallen' parishioners, is found brutally murdered, she takes on the character of a victim of war in the mind of the naive young priest. His obsession with her fate, leads Darragh on a dangerous journey of personal discovery -- one that puts his own life at risk.
336 pages, Hardcover
First published January 4, 2011
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55 people want to read
About the author
Tom Keneally
33 books73 followersSee Thomas Keneally
Thomas Keneally was born in 1935 and his first novel was published in 1964. Since then he has written a considerable number of novels and non-fiction works. His novels include The Chant of Jimmie Blacksmith, Schindler's List and The People's Train. He has won the Miles Franklin Award, the Booker Prize, the Los Angeles Times Prize, the Mondello International Prize and has been made a Literary Lion of the New York Public Library, a Fellow of the American Academy, recipient of the University of California gold medal, and is now the subject of a 55 cent Australian stamp.
He has held various academic posts in the United States, but lives in Sydney.
Thomas Keneally was born in 1935 and his first novel was published in 1964. Since then he has written a considerable number of novels and non-fiction works. His novels include The Chant of Jimmie Blacksmith, Schindler's List and The People's Train. He has won the Miles Franklin Award, the Booker Prize, the Los Angeles Times Prize, the Mondello International Prize and has been made a Literary Lion of the New York Public Library, a Fellow of the American Academy, recipient of the University of California gold medal, and is now the subject of a 55 cent Australian stamp.
He has held various academic posts in the United States, but lives in Sydney.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
January 11, 2021
Shortlisted for the 2003 Miles Franklin Award, and nominated for the International Dublin Literary Award, An Angel in Australia is the 29th novel of the prolific Australian author Thomas (Tom) Keneally. It's a very interesting book, and one worth seeking out.
Although it's not the focus of the novel, nor is it explicit, An Angel in Australia is also a novel which acknowledges clerical sexual abuse. The focus is exposing the problem of the sanctity of the confessional, and the dilemma faced by a priest when he knows that lives are at stake, including his own.
The priest Fr. Frank Darragh who hears this abhorrent confession is young, naïve and idealistic, and all the confessions he's heard so far have been about minor sins. Unlike the more cynical of the other young priests with whom he plays tennis at White City, he does not find the banality of confession tedious. Darragh is wholly sincere, and parishioners queue on his side of the church because he is gentle with them. He is shocked to the core when another young priest confesses what he has done, and his furious response startles this perpetrator who expected mercy and thinks that trying 'to make amends' will achieve absolution for his crime. Darragh's demand that the perpetrator admit his crime to the authority of his superior comes to nothing because the young priest runs away.
It is more than merely disconcerting to read the likely consequences had he stayed and admitted his crime.
Reading this is an unambiguous reminder that this was the institutional response to clerical abuse, to move perpetrators on and to hope that it would not happen again. Keneally does not flinch from making it clear to his readers.
It is war-time, Sydney in 1942, and a missing priest is of no consequence except to Darragh, and soon, he has another crisis to deal with. There is widespread anxiety about a likely Japanese invasion, and the city is full of American soldiers flirting with the local women. One of these men, an African-American called Gervaise, also comes to confession, because he hadn't understood that the friendliness of Australians towards them did not extend to sexual relations between black men and white women. It is through Fr. Darragh's contact with this man that Fr. Darragh makes the acquaintance of a military policemen called Fratelli.
The shadow of the Depression lingers and Mrs Kate Heggarty is not averse to receiving gifts from a generous American who will enable her to get by in dignity while her husband is a German POW. But — emblematic of the power and influence of the churches at this time — she is also a Catholic, and she consults Fr. Darragh outside the confessional because she wants him to know that her reasons for dalliance have more to do with the fear of poverty than sexual attraction. This consultation at the presbytery means that Fr. Darragh is not hampered by the anonymity of the confessional, and he visits her to try to change her mind. Prompted by gossip, he also visits Mrs Flood, a lapsed Catholic in a ménage a trois with her husband and a firebrand Communist, and feels himself a failure when he has no impact on their arrangements either.
To read the rest of my review please visit https://anzlitlovers.com/2021/01/11/a...
Although it's not the focus of the novel, nor is it explicit, An Angel in Australia is also a novel which acknowledges clerical sexual abuse. The focus is exposing the problem of the sanctity of the confessional, and the dilemma faced by a priest when he knows that lives are at stake, including his own.
The priest Fr. Frank Darragh who hears this abhorrent confession is young, naïve and idealistic, and all the confessions he's heard so far have been about minor sins. Unlike the more cynical of the other young priests with whom he plays tennis at White City, he does not find the banality of confession tedious. Darragh is wholly sincere, and parishioners queue on his side of the church because he is gentle with them. He is shocked to the core when another young priest confesses what he has done, and his furious response startles this perpetrator who expected mercy and thinks that trying 'to make amends' will achieve absolution for his crime. Darragh's demand that the perpetrator admit his crime to the authority of his superior comes to nothing because the young priest runs away.
It is more than merely disconcerting to read the likely consequences had he stayed and admitted his crime.
There was a silence beyond the curtain. Darragh could guess that the young brother was most fearful of being made to do that; to admit to such a crime in front of the head of his community. He had hoped that what he had done to the boy was now walled up forever in Darragh's brain, bound never to emerge. But if a condition of being absolved was that the young man tell Brother Keogh, there would be no red-velvet secrecy. He would be required to go on retreat, a time of withdrawal and reflection at a monastery. He would be sent to another school with a cloud over his name. The most senior men in the order might be warned of him, and the chief sin of his life. (p.51)
Reading this is an unambiguous reminder that this was the institutional response to clerical abuse, to move perpetrators on and to hope that it would not happen again. Keneally does not flinch from making it clear to his readers.
It is war-time, Sydney in 1942, and a missing priest is of no consequence except to Darragh, and soon, he has another crisis to deal with. There is widespread anxiety about a likely Japanese invasion, and the city is full of American soldiers flirting with the local women. One of these men, an African-American called Gervaise, also comes to confession, because he hadn't understood that the friendliness of Australians towards them did not extend to sexual relations between black men and white women. It is through Fr. Darragh's contact with this man that Fr. Darragh makes the acquaintance of a military policemen called Fratelli.
The shadow of the Depression lingers and Mrs Kate Heggarty is not averse to receiving gifts from a generous American who will enable her to get by in dignity while her husband is a German POW. But — emblematic of the power and influence of the churches at this time — she is also a Catholic, and she consults Fr. Darragh outside the confessional because she wants him to know that her reasons for dalliance have more to do with the fear of poverty than sexual attraction. This consultation at the presbytery means that Fr. Darragh is not hampered by the anonymity of the confessional, and he visits her to try to change her mind. Prompted by gossip, he also visits Mrs Flood, a lapsed Catholic in a ménage a trois with her husband and a firebrand Communist, and feels himself a failure when he has no impact on their arrangements either.
To read the rest of my review please visit https://anzlitlovers.com/2021/01/11/a...
July 21, 2019
This was a beautifully written, evocative and absorbing book. Set in a Sydney of 1942 where the Pacific war is pushing closely on the consciousness of Australians. There is a subtle sense of betrayal by England, who has used up Australian men in the wars of Africa and Europe and has nothing left to give to an Australia now under threat of the Japanese. Reading this felt like reading the first hints of individuation of Australia as a nation, from England.
Though that is not really what this book is about that is the setting, to me, the setting and the actual writing are the real highlights of this very readable book. The back cover insists that this is a book where we see into the hearts of people, mostly parishioners, through the eyes of a 'naïve young priest'. The young priest in question is Frank Darragh, the curate St Margaret's and while he is the focus of the novel it is, I feel, oversimplifying to call him naïve. While not worldly in the way of his Monsignor, Father Darragh is a very real character and perhaps no more naïve than any other young man of his age, in that age. It is just that he has chosen the church as his profession and is struggling to make sense of his world. In many ways he is not doing that bad a job either.
The back of the novel goes on to suggest that the main plot of this book is when one of Father Darragh's 'fallen' parishioners is brutally murdered. But to be honest the murder rather facilitates the plot than is, itself, the plot. The murder, in any case occurs late in the book, and it is more used to illustrate the life that was lived during the war, especially by the women whose husbands were away, for goodness knows how long, dealing with the issues of the American soldiers over here.
I really enjoyed the slow fascinating pace of the inner life of Father Frank Darragh. As someone with very little knowledge of the church this book clarified a lot about it's early power in Australia. The insight one gets through Father Darragh, so young that he still wears the title 'Father' uncomfortably, so earnest that his confessionals take longer than any other priest, so focused on his calling that the outside world is rather mystifying.... 's.This insight is the best thing about the novel.
It is also rather creepy and unnerving, to see the power the church had over what was basically a captive population. That the author sees this as well is proven by the Ross, the 'communist' character who is anti-church, anti-cops and anti-establishment. This character is a dynamic and complicated foil to Father Darragh, while he is not a large part of the text he is pretty pivotal in places. The dynamic between the beliefs of the two characters (as well as the difference between their beliefs and their actions) is very much a social commentary. While the author never seems to condemn the things that are condemned by his characters there, is a strong commentary on the underlying hipocrasy of many levels of the society of the 1940's.
The end is excellent, no spoilers, but it centers around the submarine attack on Sydney harbour, it is both excitingly written and vibrantly fascinating to read. This also signals the final part of the fate of the murderer and is a wrap up for all the previous plot elements.
I would recommend this book to anyone who thinks they might enjoy the well written pace of it. Also, anyone with an interest in early Australia, or the early church in Australia; the behaviour, customs and mannerisms are very well well written and I enjoyed the whole novel most thoroughly.
Though that is not really what this book is about that is the setting, to me, the setting and the actual writing are the real highlights of this very readable book. The back cover insists that this is a book where we see into the hearts of people, mostly parishioners, through the eyes of a 'naïve young priest'. The young priest in question is Frank Darragh, the curate St Margaret's and while he is the focus of the novel it is, I feel, oversimplifying to call him naïve. While not worldly in the way of his Monsignor, Father Darragh is a very real character and perhaps no more naïve than any other young man of his age, in that age. It is just that he has chosen the church as his profession and is struggling to make sense of his world. In many ways he is not doing that bad a job either.
The back of the novel goes on to suggest that the main plot of this book is when one of Father Darragh's 'fallen' parishioners is brutally murdered. But to be honest the murder rather facilitates the plot than is, itself, the plot. The murder, in any case occurs late in the book, and it is more used to illustrate the life that was lived during the war, especially by the women whose husbands were away, for goodness knows how long, dealing with the issues of the American soldiers over here.
I really enjoyed the slow fascinating pace of the inner life of Father Frank Darragh. As someone with very little knowledge of the church this book clarified a lot about it's early power in Australia. The insight one gets through Father Darragh, so young that he still wears the title 'Father' uncomfortably, so earnest that his confessionals take longer than any other priest, so focused on his calling that the outside world is rather mystifying.... 's.This insight is the best thing about the novel.
It is also rather creepy and unnerving, to see the power the church had over what was basically a captive population. That the author sees this as well is proven by the Ross, the 'communist' character who is anti-church, anti-cops and anti-establishment. This character is a dynamic and complicated foil to Father Darragh, while he is not a large part of the text he is pretty pivotal in places. The dynamic between the beliefs of the two characters (as well as the difference between their beliefs and their actions) is very much a social commentary. While the author never seems to condemn the things that are condemned by his characters there, is a strong commentary on the underlying hipocrasy of many levels of the society of the 1940's.
The end is excellent, no spoilers, but it centers around the submarine attack on Sydney harbour, it is both excitingly written and vibrantly fascinating to read. This also signals the final part of the fate of the murderer and is a wrap up for all the previous plot elements.
I would recommend this book to anyone who thinks they might enjoy the well written pace of it. Also, anyone with an interest in early Australia, or the early church in Australia; the behaviour, customs and mannerisms are very well well written and I enjoyed the whole novel most thoroughly.
April 15, 2023
An interesting, poignant, historical fiction novel set in Australia during World War 2, in the early 1940s Sydney. It follows the trials and tribulations of a young Catholic priest, Father Frank Darragh, who acts with innocence and an openness to the pain of others. He is idealistic and wholly sincere, and parishioners queue on his side of the church because he is gentle with them.
He is unwittingly naive in his communications with a beautiful young married woman, whose husband is overseas in the Australian army. She confesses to Father Darragh that an American officer is very attentive towards her, providing gifts to her and her child.
A tragedy occurs and Father Darragh is placed in a predicament when a murderer confesses to Father Darragh in the sanctity of the confessional.
A particularly well written novel that provides an interesting perspective on some of the issues Catholic priests are confronted with.
A recommended read.
This book was shortlisted for the 2003 Miles Franklin award.
He is unwittingly naive in his communications with a beautiful young married woman, whose husband is overseas in the Australian army. She confesses to Father Darragh that an American officer is very attentive towards her, providing gifts to her and her child.
A tragedy occurs and Father Darragh is placed in a predicament when a murderer confesses to Father Darragh in the sanctity of the confessional.
A particularly well written novel that provides an interesting perspective on some of the issues Catholic priests are confronted with.
A recommended read.
This book was shortlisted for the 2003 Miles Franklin award.
April 22, 2020
I had to read the first paragraph three times to get the gist of what Tom was trying to convey to his audience. I could have given up there and then but I persisted. A book is not shortlisted for the Miles Franklin for no reason. I was so pleased I continued. Keneally's writing is lyrical in places, intriguing and pleasurable. His plot is just as intriguing and his characterisation of Father Darragh sympathetic and also powerful. He is a master of his craft. This book gives a marvellous insight into the Catholic Church and WW2 Australian society. A great read.
August 9, 2013
Father Darragh, the central character in this book, is an innocent, passionate man. I really like the style of writing that portrays him and the people and places around him. Even though I don't have a Catholic background, I could understand and relate to this story, which I couldn't do very well with Thomas Keneally's "Three Cheers for the Paraclete".
July 31, 2018
I’ve wanted to read this book for a long time. Thomas Keneally’s work is always a hard to get into but once my mind finds the rhythm of his writing and the flow of the characters speech, I’m in. This story uses the dramatic times in Sydney during WW2, when our country was valiantly battling the Japanese on neighbouring shore and Germans on the Western Front; and the contradictions of the Catholic Church in 1940s Australia. I love the insights Keneally brings of life and of the challenges in these times.
April 19, 2023
Diverting, but for those of us without either the experience of Catholicism or indeed of active faith, there is much in here of a very foreign air.
October 31, 2010
This book is based in Sydney during WW2 at the time when the city feared invasion by the Japanese. This was a period of dramatic change for Australian society, with the presence of American troops, challenges to the old colonial relationship with Great Britain and the usual breakdown in traditional values that accompanies war.
The book follows a young, devout, yet innocent Catholic priest who gets way out of his pastoral depth for all the best reasons. He has a gift and perhaps a vocation as a confessor. Yet despite his devotion to his office, he gets drawn deeper and deeper into the maelstrom of human emotion and tries without success to put his experiences into the Catholic framework given to him in the seminary. The church, rather than throwing him a life belt and helping him through this with his faith intact, distances itself from him.
It's not a great book, but it has its strengths. It allows the reader to peep behind the curtains of Sydney suburban society in the forties and understand how the war challenged the old order. Worth a read. I gave it 3 stars and would probably have added a half if available.
The book follows a young, devout, yet innocent Catholic priest who gets way out of his pastoral depth for all the best reasons. He has a gift and perhaps a vocation as a confessor. Yet despite his devotion to his office, he gets drawn deeper and deeper into the maelstrom of human emotion and tries without success to put his experiences into the Catholic framework given to him in the seminary. The church, rather than throwing him a life belt and helping him through this with his faith intact, distances itself from him.
It's not a great book, but it has its strengths. It allows the reader to peep behind the curtains of Sydney suburban society in the forties and understand how the war challenged the old order. Worth a read. I gave it 3 stars and would probably have added a half if available.
December 15, 2015
Having read several of Keneally's books now, safe to say there are familiar themes in this story: the tumult of war, a young Catholic priest tempted by a war widow, the sanctity of the confessional, the darkness at the heart of men, what shame and guilt can do to the human soul. I was interested to hear how the priest handled a confession of child molestation by a Brother; as a sin and not a crime.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews