Charmian Clift: Selected Essays

by Charmian Clift

A new selection of the essays Charmian Clift wrote for the Sydney Morning Herald during the 1960's. For thousands of readers, thursday's Herald and it's Clift column were compulsory reading. Passionate, insightful, warm - when Charmian died in 1969 the paper was flooded with letters from her readers who mourned the death of 'a true friend.' this selection is taken from the four volumes previously published by Harper Collins, the World of Charmian Clift, Images in Aspic, On Being Alone with Oneself, and trouble in Lotus Land, edited and with a new introduction by Charmian Clift's biographer, Nadia Wheatley.

384 pages, Paperback

First published May 11, 2001

About the author

Charmian Clift was an Australian writer and essayist during the mid 20th century. She was the second wife and literary collaborator of George Johnston.

Reviews

[Rosemary Atwell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Clift’s weekly newspaper columns for ‘The Sydney Morning Herald’ and the Melbourne ‘Herald’ affirms her place in Australian literature as an essayist, social commentator and advocate for cultural and political change. Written between 1964 and 1969 upon her return from fifteen years of life in Greece and London, Clift observes her homeland as an alien enchantment, a sleeping beauty of richness and unawakened possibilities.

More heartbreaking is the knowledge that the warm and assured voice of each piece masks the tragedy of a life falling apart and adds further to her constant questioning of what it means to be both Australian and a citizen of the a much larger world, as well as a nation of often neglected and unrecognised ancient and modern traditions.

These graceful and timeless pieces are as necessary and urgent today as when they were first written - a strong and passionate voice for justice, human rights and responsibility for individual actions and beliefs.

[Tundra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Incredible how relevant and topical these essay/opinion pieces feel given they were written in the 1960’s. Clift’s time abroad certainly opened her eyes and mind to the world around her and gave her a perception of life beyond the narrow mindedness of ‘white’ Australia. Her relaxed tone and humour made these a delight to dip in and out of.

[Lisandra Linde · Rating 4 out of 5]

Clift's essays are short but detailed and filled with wit as well as clever discussion. Clift conjures up lush memories of places both distant and close, from the Greek islands to Far North Queensland. She covers subjects of all kinds from the mundane musings of day-to-day life in the city and at home, to significant moments in history and their toll on the Australian population.

Many of these essays speak to issues of continued importance to Australian society despite the lapse of decades since they were written. Issues like the right to protest and access to safe and legal abortions still loom large in our current social and political landscape.

Definitely an Australian essayist worth reading.