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A Bough in Hell
Vulnerable and uncertain of herself, Roslyn is a woman who needs people needs to feel that people need her. But her husband Rod, an officer in the Australian Navy, is often away at sea, and her daughter -- grown up and preoccupied with her studies and her boyfriend -- comes only rarely to see her. Imagining slights where perhaps none exist, and feeling herself shunned by the tenants in her Sydney block of flats, Roslyn starts drinking to console herself on her lonely evenings at home, unaware that what is at first only a harmless temporary escape from barren reality will grow into a need, and then into an overpowering obsession.
285 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1971
14 people want to read
About the author
Dymphna Cusack
37 books18 followersDymphna Cusack AM (21 September 1902 — 19 October 1981) was an Australian author. Born in West Wyalong, New South Wales, Dymphna Cusack was educated at St Ursula's College, and graduated from Sydney University with an honours degree in Arts and a diploma in Education. She worked as a teacher until she retired in 1944 for health reasons.
Cusack wrote twelve novels (two of which were collaborations), seven plays, three travel books, two children's books and one non-fiction book. Her collaborative novels were Pioneers on Parade (1939) with Miles Franklin, and Come In Spinner (1951) with Florence James.
Cusack wrote twelve novels (two of which were collaborations), seven plays, three travel books, two children's books and one non-fiction book. Her collaborative novels were Pioneers on Parade (1939) with Miles Franklin, and Come In Spinner (1951) with Florence James.
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
February 20, 2012
When I embarked on the Australian Women Writers’ Challenge, I didn’t make a reading list, but I knew that I wanted to include at least one book by one of the ‘older generation’ of women novelists. I chose Dymphna Cusack (1902-1981), best known for Come in Spinner and Caddie. Over her long career she produced a total of 13 novels, 7 plays, children’s books and non-fiction titles. She was also a teacher, social activist, and friend of Miles Franklin.
A Bough in Hell was Cusack’s last novel, written in 1971, and is based on her experience with her sister’s alcoholism. The main character is Roslyn Blackie, a 43-year-old woman who lives in Rushcutters Bay, Sydney. Her husband Rod is a naval officer and is often away for long periods, and her grown-up daughter Gwen no longer needs her, so Roslyn drinks to escape her loneliness, frustration and boredom. Her only friend is her cat Smudgy.
After a particularly bad drinking bout in which Roslyn experiences DTs, she is sent to hospital, and from there she is committed – under the Inebriates Act – to a long stay in Beauchamp Hall mental institution in country New South Wales. Roslyn’s incarceration in Beauchamp Hall takes up at least half the book.
This was a difficult novel for many reasons. For most of the book, Roslyn is not a sympathetic character – not because she is an alcoholic, but because she is a self-pitying martyr and is overly dependent on her patronising, controlling husband. The mental institution is just a cut above the ‘snake pit’ and ‘cuckoo’s nest’ of fictional fame, and is a place where relatively sane alcoholics are locked away with the senile, violent and truly deranged.
Whilst in hospital, Roslyn is taken to a meeting of Alcoholics Anonymous but does not return, because of what she perceives as ‘maddening self-exposure’. But strangely enough, even without AA or any other therapy, Roslyn slowly begins to improve, helped along by her friendship with fellow alkies Doc and Judith, and through her work as a seamstress in the hospital laundry. As she becomes useful and independent, she becomes much more likeable.
The main reason why I’m giving the book only 3 stars instead of 4 is that I was disappointed in the ending. It was abrupt and unsatisfying and whilst the conclusion will probably appeal to many readers, to me it felt as though the author just ran out of puff. This is possible, as it was Cusack’s last novel and she was in poor health for many years before she died.
A Bough in Hell is worth reading because of Dymphna Cusack’s excellent powers of description, and her intelligent exploration of alcoholism at a time when it carried more of a stigma than it does now, especially for women.
A Bough in Hell was Cusack’s last novel, written in 1971, and is based on her experience with her sister’s alcoholism. The main character is Roslyn Blackie, a 43-year-old woman who lives in Rushcutters Bay, Sydney. Her husband Rod is a naval officer and is often away for long periods, and her grown-up daughter Gwen no longer needs her, so Roslyn drinks to escape her loneliness, frustration and boredom. Her only friend is her cat Smudgy.
After a particularly bad drinking bout in which Roslyn experiences DTs, she is sent to hospital, and from there she is committed – under the Inebriates Act – to a long stay in Beauchamp Hall mental institution in country New South Wales. Roslyn’s incarceration in Beauchamp Hall takes up at least half the book.
This was a difficult novel for many reasons. For most of the book, Roslyn is not a sympathetic character – not because she is an alcoholic, but because she is a self-pitying martyr and is overly dependent on her patronising, controlling husband. The mental institution is just a cut above the ‘snake pit’ and ‘cuckoo’s nest’ of fictional fame, and is a place where relatively sane alcoholics are locked away with the senile, violent and truly deranged.
Whilst in hospital, Roslyn is taken to a meeting of Alcoholics Anonymous but does not return, because of what she perceives as ‘maddening self-exposure’. But strangely enough, even without AA or any other therapy, Roslyn slowly begins to improve, helped along by her friendship with fellow alkies Doc and Judith, and through her work as a seamstress in the hospital laundry. As she becomes useful and independent, she becomes much more likeable.
The main reason why I’m giving the book only 3 stars instead of 4 is that I was disappointed in the ending. It was abrupt and unsatisfying and whilst the conclusion will probably appeal to many readers, to me it felt as though the author just ran out of puff. This is possible, as it was Cusack’s last novel and she was in poor health for many years before she died.
A Bough in Hell is worth reading because of Dymphna Cusack’s excellent powers of description, and her intelligent exploration of alcoholism at a time when it carried more of a stigma than it does now, especially for women.
August 29, 2021
I have a big love and enthusiasm for Classics Australian Literature. One of the downsides of this enthusiasm is that almost nobody else shares it.
Case in point: this wonderful, compassionate novel, as i write this i am only the second person on Goodreads to write a review.
This is the sort of book that should be more widely read. If Australia was a country that valued its own literary heritage it would be more widely read. Alas, it isn't.
Written in 1971 this is the story of a woman and her decline into alcoholism followed by her incarceration in a mental hospital and first, tentative steps back into the normal world. Apparently this is loosely based on the author's sister but i don't know for certain. Actually i couldn't find much online about the life and work of Dymphna Cusack at all. Again, Australians just don't value their own literature.
This is a deeply compassionate, heart felt novel, the flawed and hopeless people are treated with understanding not judgement. Highly recommended.
Case in point: this wonderful, compassionate novel, as i write this i am only the second person on Goodreads to write a review.
This is the sort of book that should be more widely read. If Australia was a country that valued its own literary heritage it would be more widely read. Alas, it isn't.
Written in 1971 this is the story of a woman and her decline into alcoholism followed by her incarceration in a mental hospital and first, tentative steps back into the normal world. Apparently this is loosely based on the author's sister but i don't know for certain. Actually i couldn't find much online about the life and work of Dymphna Cusack at all. Again, Australians just don't value their own literature.
This is a deeply compassionate, heart felt novel, the flawed and hopeless people are treated with understanding not judgement. Highly recommended.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews