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My Career Goes Bung
Sybylla Melvyn is well known to the tens of thousands who have read her first "autobiography", My Brilliant Career. In this, the sequel, however, the real Sybylla emerges--a little older now and facing the sudden change from bush obscurity to overnight fame. The publication of her novel has been a success, fashionable Sydney society lionises her and innumerable suitors pay court.
Once again Sybylla recounts her experiences with spirit, sensitivity and fortrightness and once again she emerges as an irrepressible, undaunted young woman and a most exceptional Australian heroine.
Once again Sybylla recounts her experiences with spirit, sensitivity and fortrightness and once again she emerges as an irrepressible, undaunted young woman and a most exceptional Australian heroine.
234 pages, Paperback
First published September 1, 1946
18 people are currently reading
204 people want to read
About the author
Miles Franklin
59 books80 followersStella Maria Sarah Miles Franklin was born in 1879 in rural New South Wales.
My Brilliant Career
, her first novel, was published to much excitement and acclaim. She moved to Sydney where she became involved in feminist and literary circles and then onto the United States of America in 1907.
She was committed to the development of a uniquely Australian form of literature, and she actively pursued this goal by supporting writers, literary journals, and organisations of writers. She has had a long-lasting impact on Australian literary life through her endowment of a major literary award known as the Miles Franklin Award.
She was committed to the development of a uniquely Australian form of literature, and she actively pursued this goal by supporting writers, literary journals, and organisations of writers. She has had a long-lasting impact on Australian literary life through her endowment of a major literary award known as the Miles Franklin Award.
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
January 28, 2013
Most of the fascination of this book derives from the fact that Miles Franklin has taken the response to My Brilliant Career, the prurience, the disapproval, the simple conflation of author and character, and hit it for six. Franklin is fearless, funny and unsparing in describing the strange responses of her countrymen to her little "spoof autobiography". In My Career Goes Bung, rather than slink away quietly, chastened and vowing to repent, Franklin comes out swinging. How fortunate that she didn't use a nom de plume the first time round, for if she had we never would have had the unique reflection on writing and society that is My Career Goes Bung.
December 14, 2016
All the blurbs of this book are wrong. Which gives me great satisfaction to say, but it means we need some clarification. Some of the other reviews here (only ten!) tackle it, but I think there's an underexplored thesis here: My Career Goes Bung is postmodern.
Yes, published in 1946, but written much earlier, My Career Goes Bung is not, as advertised, a sequel to My Brilliant Career. I went into this, lured by the blurb on my edition, expecting to be entertained by the continued adventures of Sybylla. And I was. I expected to grin wide again at her refusal to compromise, her relentless tearing back of society's veil, her righteous young female rage. And I was.
But! This is not the continued adventures of the Sybylla you know from My Brilliant Career. That Sybylla was fictional, don't you know. Obviously too ridiculous a character, too outlandish a plot, to be grounded in anything near reality. That Sybylla was written by this Sybylla. The Sybylla of My Career Goes Bung wrote the Sybylla of My Brilliant Career. Though they share many characteristics in common, the plot events of that book are mostly 'fictional'.
However, just as it has always been thought that Sybylla was very close to the true character of Miles Franklin, so too do the characters surrounding the 'real' Sybylla of My Career Goes Bung assume that the character in her book is just like her in reality. And because there are parts in common, readers assume that all are. After the publishing of her book, Sybylla begins to receive great quantities of mail. Much of it is from men and women bemoaning the outrageousness of the book, insisting that shame should be heaped on her and her family. More still is from young girls insisting that the book speaks to the great truth of what it means to be a young girl in such a time and place. Yet more is from men who wish to propose to her.
A suitor, convinced that he is the Harold Beecham of the book made flesh--despite never having met Sybylla prior--imposes himself on her family and insists that she marry him. Apparently having missed the rather key attitude book-Sybylla has towards marriage. Escaping this lifestyle, Sybylla heads to Sydney and quickly becomes involved with the literati of the time, and has an affair with a figure who is apparently a thin caricature of Banjo Paterson. These sections are allegedly why My Career Goes Bung was originally refused publication--many other characters are supposedly mocking portrayals of figures of that time and place.
A 'sequel', in essence, about the character who wrote the first book, both versions of whom are deeply connected to the author's own experiences, My Careers Goes Bung begins every bit as enjoyable as its predecessor, but thanks to its metanonfictional aspects--totally a thing--becomes elevated to an even higher level.
Yes, published in 1946, but written much earlier, My Career Goes Bung is not, as advertised, a sequel to My Brilliant Career. I went into this, lured by the blurb on my edition, expecting to be entertained by the continued adventures of Sybylla. And I was. I expected to grin wide again at her refusal to compromise, her relentless tearing back of society's veil, her righteous young female rage. And I was.
But! This is not the continued adventures of the Sybylla you know from My Brilliant Career. That Sybylla was fictional, don't you know. Obviously too ridiculous a character, too outlandish a plot, to be grounded in anything near reality. That Sybylla was written by this Sybylla. The Sybylla of My Career Goes Bung wrote the Sybylla of My Brilliant Career. Though they share many characteristics in common, the plot events of that book are mostly 'fictional'.
However, just as it has always been thought that Sybylla was very close to the true character of Miles Franklin, so too do the characters surrounding the 'real' Sybylla of My Career Goes Bung assume that the character in her book is just like her in reality. And because there are parts in common, readers assume that all are. After the publishing of her book, Sybylla begins to receive great quantities of mail. Much of it is from men and women bemoaning the outrageousness of the book, insisting that shame should be heaped on her and her family. More still is from young girls insisting that the book speaks to the great truth of what it means to be a young girl in such a time and place. Yet more is from men who wish to propose to her.
A suitor, convinced that he is the Harold Beecham of the book made flesh--despite never having met Sybylla prior--imposes himself on her family and insists that she marry him. Apparently having missed the rather key attitude book-Sybylla has towards marriage. Escaping this lifestyle, Sybylla heads to Sydney and quickly becomes involved with the literati of the time, and has an affair with a figure who is apparently a thin caricature of Banjo Paterson. These sections are allegedly why My Career Goes Bung was originally refused publication--many other characters are supposedly mocking portrayals of figures of that time and place.
A 'sequel', in essence, about the character who wrote the first book, both versions of whom are deeply connected to the author's own experiences, My Careers Goes Bung begins every bit as enjoyable as its predecessor, but thanks to its metanonfictional aspects--totally a thing--becomes elevated to an even higher level.
July 26, 2023
It's so gorgeous and funny and sad and amazing. Like its prequel, one of those books that still time: you become aware, while reading, that the very first reading is a momentous occasion, that this book is going to change you. In that way, I'd class it up there with Rosamond Lehmann's 'The Weather In The Streets' and 'Dusty Answer', with Mary Renault's 'The Charioteer', with Elaine Dundy's 'The Dud Avocado', with Mary Karr's 'Lit'.. Maybe in some ways with all of K.M. Peyton's Pennington series.
But really, this stands alone. Franklin was a phenomenal personality. What a living ageless document of a book.
But really, this stands alone. Franklin was a phenomenal personality. What a living ageless document of a book.
March 17, 2013
I adore this book. Published in 1946, but written in 1902, right after 19-year-old Miles Franklin became a huge hit with 'My Brilliant Career'. Some representative quotes from our plucky protagonist, the (semi-autobiographical) young writer, Sybylla:
On spoiling the earth:
p66 - "His Reverence said that I was suffering from the divine discontent of genius, that it was a different matter with common people. If their noses weren't kept to the grindstone - Ha! Ha! Ha! - rearing families and working, they would get up to all the devil's mischief in the world. Sure, we must fill up Australia and hold it from the Yellow Peril at our doors. We must ourselves become a swarming menace to out-swarm the Yellow Peril! What a reason for spoiling our part of the earth!"
On the ALP:
p116 - "My hostess paid the cabman. He was not satisfied.
'You ugly old buzzard, and two of you and luggage to boot; Had I knowed you were to be that mean, I'd have tipped yous both out in the mud.'
'Run inside, my dear,' said Mrs Crasterton.
'You old skin flint, you'd bile down fleas for their hides.'
...
Mrs Crasterton told me to follow the maid while she followed me laying the blame of the 'growing insolence of the lower classes' on the unhealthy growth of the Labor Party, which she averred would be the ruin of the new Commonwealth."
On girls who write:
p128 - " 'I meant to go after dinner, but Jemima said something about a girl who writes, comin' tonight. I'd as soon have a perfomin' bear about the place as a woman who writes. The bear's performance would be more natural, too.'
'Then why did you stay?'
'Thought I'd better see what the world is comin' to. Now that women have votes, life won't be worth livin' much longer.'
'Do you think that women should not have any brains?'
'Brains! A woman with brains is a monstrosity.'
I can never understand why men are so terrified of women having special talents. They have no consistency in argument. They are as sure as the Rock of Gibraltar that they have all the mental superiority and that women are weak-minded, feeble conies; then why do they get in such a mad-bull panic at any attempt on the part of women to express themselves? Men strut and blow about themselves all the time without shame. In the matter of women's brain power they organise conditions comparable to a foot race in which they have all the training and the proper shoes and little running pants, while women are taken out of the plough, so to speak, with harness and winkers still on them, and are lucky if they are allowed to start at scratch. Then men bellow that they have won the race, that women never could, it would be against NATURE if they did."
p131 - "I hung on secretly to my faith that the greatest nations would always be those where women were freest."
p181 - "It was, oh, so easy to fall back on being a girl. That was the only side of any woman Mr. Hardy would really want except those to do his cooking and laundry and other things that could be done for him equally well by men, only that he would have to pay them more."
It has been really fun reading Stella Maria Sarah Miles Franklin at the same time as Virginia Woolf, the one young and passionate, the other one older and cutting. Both ahead of their time. I think I enjoyed "My Career Goes Bung" even more than "My Brilliant Career," because of her desperation to go to Sydney, and then her disillusionment with it. Her characterisations are wonderful and so are her descriptions!
On spoiling the earth:
p66 - "His Reverence said that I was suffering from the divine discontent of genius, that it was a different matter with common people. If their noses weren't kept to the grindstone - Ha! Ha! Ha! - rearing families and working, they would get up to all the devil's mischief in the world. Sure, we must fill up Australia and hold it from the Yellow Peril at our doors. We must ourselves become a swarming menace to out-swarm the Yellow Peril! What a reason for spoiling our part of the earth!"
On the ALP:
p116 - "My hostess paid the cabman. He was not satisfied.
'You ugly old buzzard, and two of you and luggage to boot; Had I knowed you were to be that mean, I'd have tipped yous both out in the mud.'
'Run inside, my dear,' said Mrs Crasterton.
'You old skin flint, you'd bile down fleas for their hides.'
...
Mrs Crasterton told me to follow the maid while she followed me laying the blame of the 'growing insolence of the lower classes' on the unhealthy growth of the Labor Party, which she averred would be the ruin of the new Commonwealth."
On girls who write:
p128 - " 'I meant to go after dinner, but Jemima said something about a girl who writes, comin' tonight. I'd as soon have a perfomin' bear about the place as a woman who writes. The bear's performance would be more natural, too.'
'Then why did you stay?'
'Thought I'd better see what the world is comin' to. Now that women have votes, life won't be worth livin' much longer.'
'Do you think that women should not have any brains?'
'Brains! A woman with brains is a monstrosity.'
I can never understand why men are so terrified of women having special talents. They have no consistency in argument. They are as sure as the Rock of Gibraltar that they have all the mental superiority and that women are weak-minded, feeble conies; then why do they get in such a mad-bull panic at any attempt on the part of women to express themselves? Men strut and blow about themselves all the time without shame. In the matter of women's brain power they organise conditions comparable to a foot race in which they have all the training and the proper shoes and little running pants, while women are taken out of the plough, so to speak, with harness and winkers still on them, and are lucky if they are allowed to start at scratch. Then men bellow that they have won the race, that women never could, it would be against NATURE if they did."
p131 - "I hung on secretly to my faith that the greatest nations would always be those where women were freest."
p181 - "It was, oh, so easy to fall back on being a girl. That was the only side of any woman Mr. Hardy would really want except those to do his cooking and laundry and other things that could be done for him equally well by men, only that he would have to pay them more."
It has been really fun reading Stella Maria Sarah Miles Franklin at the same time as Virginia Woolf, the one young and passionate, the other one older and cutting. Both ahead of their time. I think I enjoyed "My Career Goes Bung" even more than "My Brilliant Career," because of her desperation to go to Sydney, and then her disillusionment with it. Her characterisations are wonderful and so are her descriptions!
October 18, 2015
My Career Goes Bung is the sequel to Miles Franklin’s My Brilliant Career, written in 1902 it wasn’t published until 1946. It is Franklin’s response to the fame and notoriety she received following the publication of her autobiographical novel My Brilliant Career in 1901. In her Foreword to this edition Verna Coleman explains why this second book was not published when it was first written. Miles Franklin had caused quite a stir when My Brilliant Career first appeared, Franklin was an outspoken young woman ahead of her time, an early feminist, who spoke against the accepted way of things, and she shocked her community with what appeared to be very advanced views on the position of women. Her publisher felt unable to publish this second work as several characters were just a little too recognisable as real life members of Sydney society.
The heroine of both books is Sybylla Melvyn, who like her creator, grew up on a bush station as part of the ‘squattocracy’. Life in Possum Gully is often difficult, sometimes the rains don’t come and there is no spare money for luxuries and lots of hard work to be done, writing is easily seen as a silly indulgence. Sybylla’s mother had been born into a rather better family, and has married a little beneath her, Sybylla’s father a former local politician, is not very good at business. Sybylla often incurs her mother’s irritation over her wilful ways, her writing and her outlandish opinions.
Full review: https://heavenali.wordpress.com/2015/...
The heroine of both books is Sybylla Melvyn, who like her creator, grew up on a bush station as part of the ‘squattocracy’. Life in Possum Gully is often difficult, sometimes the rains don’t come and there is no spare money for luxuries and lots of hard work to be done, writing is easily seen as a silly indulgence. Sybylla’s mother had been born into a rather better family, and has married a little beneath her, Sybylla’s father a former local politician, is not very good at business. Sybylla often incurs her mother’s irritation over her wilful ways, her writing and her outlandish opinions.
Full review: https://heavenali.wordpress.com/2015/...
April 12, 2023
City life and society take all the charm out of a great main character. It’s just not as enjoyable to read, and though she’s still very much a trailblazing feminist, she just seems no where near as interesting trying to fend for herself in the big city. Not to mention the fact that her suitors are all much of a muchness and there’s nothing unique or interesting about any of them. Definitely the original over this.
‘I was at a stage of chrysalism when boys dream of becoming bushrangers, engine drivers, or champion pugilists. Nothing so garishly simple relieves a girl. I yearned to make the whole world into a beautiful place where there would be no sick or starving babies, where people of advancing years could be safe from penury, where all the animals could be fat and happy, and even our little sisters, the flowers, might not be bruised or plucked against their wish. The prospect of settling down to act tame hen in a tin pot circle, and to acknowledge men as superior merely owing to the accident of gender, revolted me.’ p.1
‘As I lay awake I pondered another inconsistency. If old men being this disgusting was so usual that Ma could be quite calm about it, why did men give themselves such airs about having all the brains and strength of mind? The more I thought, the more did old men seem like the God they had set up in their own image for women and children to worship.’ p.85
‘I was at a stage of chrysalism when boys dream of becoming bushrangers, engine drivers, or champion pugilists. Nothing so garishly simple relieves a girl. I yearned to make the whole world into a beautiful place where there would be no sick or starving babies, where people of advancing years could be safe from penury, where all the animals could be fat and happy, and even our little sisters, the flowers, might not be bruised or plucked against their wish. The prospect of settling down to act tame hen in a tin pot circle, and to acknowledge men as superior merely owing to the accident of gender, revolted me.’ p.1
‘As I lay awake I pondered another inconsistency. If old men being this disgusting was so usual that Ma could be quite calm about it, why did men give themselves such airs about having all the brains and strength of mind? The more I thought, the more did old men seem like the God they had set up in their own image for women and children to worship.’ p.85
February 20, 2016
This isn't terrible. But it's a sequel I wish I hadn't been tempted by – Sybylla's voice was so perfectly captured in 'My Brilliant Career' that I was content to be left wondering.
November 9, 2018
An autobiographical novel about Miles Franklin being introduced to Sydney society with the odd romantic interest thrown in. Her fierce independence shines through this and it is beautifully written.
June 13, 2016
I read My Brilliant Career a while ago and was happy to leave Sybylla Melvyn where she was (though I was informed the movie ending differs! I’ve still yet to watch it). There has not been many encouraging reviews for My Career Goes Bung either so I did not actually put the book on my tbr list. However, I’ve recently read Miles Franklin biography, Stella Miles Fraklin: A Biography and my curiosity was piqued. Both books were meant to be fiction but were apparently close enough to her own life that it was rather like an autobiography though it was denied as such by the author herself. From, her biography, I found that Miles Franklin to be an admirable woman of strength who formed her own opinions and stuck true to herself. There were, of course, some decisions which sounded strange but she was a rather unique personality.
Despite the not-so-good reviews for this particular book, I have actually enjoyed it. I had to keep in mind that this book was written immediately after My Brilliant Career was published though it was not published until 1946 (the foreword in my edition noted; “The spectre of libel actions loomed too large and Robertson [publisher] at that time had no choice but to refuse publication.”) so it was still a very young Miles Franklin who wrote this book. The thoughts on women and their places in society were the reflection of a young intelligent woman rather than a bitter unmarried lady (she seemed a little bitter later on in her biography). It was glaringly obvious that Sybylla was seeking to be her own self and to enjoy her writing without having to oblige to society’s demand of marriage. She was also capably independent though somewhat naive so there were some chuckles over her encounters with men.
I don’t particularly understand any woman’s wish to stay unmarried but that is a matter of personal preferences and we each differ in so many ways. I do, however, understand that repressiveness portrayed by Sybylla Melvyn of being shackled by society’s expectation of a woman and her wish to dislodge these old conceptions. She, like Miles Franklin herself, is a modern woman alive in the cusp of old-to-new age and was born to fight so we women can be where we are today.
Despite the not-so-good reviews for this particular book, I have actually enjoyed it. I had to keep in mind that this book was written immediately after My Brilliant Career was published though it was not published until 1946 (the foreword in my edition noted; “The spectre of libel actions loomed too large and Robertson [publisher] at that time had no choice but to refuse publication.”) so it was still a very young Miles Franklin who wrote this book. The thoughts on women and their places in society were the reflection of a young intelligent woman rather than a bitter unmarried lady (she seemed a little bitter later on in her biography). It was glaringly obvious that Sybylla was seeking to be her own self and to enjoy her writing without having to oblige to society’s demand of marriage. She was also capably independent though somewhat naive so there were some chuckles over her encounters with men.
I don’t particularly understand any woman’s wish to stay unmarried but that is a matter of personal preferences and we each differ in so many ways. I do, however, understand that repressiveness portrayed by Sybylla Melvyn of being shackled by society’s expectation of a woman and her wish to dislodge these old conceptions. She, like Miles Franklin herself, is a modern woman alive in the cusp of old-to-new age and was born to fight so we women can be where we are today.
August 28, 2014
The sequel to the semi-autobiographical My Brilliant Career. It is both an apologia for such success coming so quickly that in real life Franklin was afraid she’d never reach the success of My Brilliant Career, and a strident essay on feminism. Sybilla is at once a brilliantly clever girl who is out of place in Possum Flat and an innocent bush girl equally out of place in Sydney’s high social set -- yet is adored by them. The characters are stock, especially the socialites, who have names like Lady Hobnob, Mrs Thrumnoddy, the whole situation improbable. It is an essay on society manners and the way women are treated – and willingly so (except Sybilla) – rather than a novel. Irritating at times, but some lovely writing too – and it does throw an interesting light on Federation Australian society.
September 6, 2012
Expands on the story of My Brilliant Career. It was better than I expected, although dated. Written more than 100 years ago, Miles Franklin was ahead of her time with regards to the women's equality and the paternalism of the Church. She is quite critical of many aspects of life, particularly society people. But times have changed since then, and partly due to her books.
It shows a harder life for people who lived in country areas, particularly for women.
The style of writing is also somewhat dated. She continually uses long words, and sometimes extends them for her own purposes. I had to look up quite a few, because they are either archaic, slipped from general usage, or are country slang.
Worth reading.
It shows a harder life for people who lived in country areas, particularly for women.
The style of writing is also somewhat dated. She continually uses long words, and sometimes extends them for her own purposes. I had to look up quite a few, because they are either archaic, slipped from general usage, or are country slang.
Worth reading.
January 2, 2014
I started this almost straight away after finishing 'My Brilliant Career' in the hope that it followed on and resolved my issues with the first book.
It took me a while to work out what was happening, why she kept getting details wrong from the first book etc. But once I worked it out, I settled down to greatly enjoy it.
However, again like my problems with 'My Brilliant Career', some things just made no sense. She has insight here, but is completely foolish and naive over here. Further, books where every male always falls in love with the main character even though she is not beautiful/unrefined/whatever annoys me. And again the ending left me unsatisfied.
Loved the writing and the Australian-ness of it, but would have enjoyed it more with less whinging and more closure at the end.
It took me a while to work out what was happening, why she kept getting details wrong from the first book etc. But once I worked it out, I settled down to greatly enjoy it.
However, again like my problems with 'My Brilliant Career', some things just made no sense. She has insight here, but is completely foolish and naive over here. Further, books where every male always falls in love with the main character even though she is not beautiful/unrefined/whatever annoys me. And again the ending left me unsatisfied.
Loved the writing and the Australian-ness of it, but would have enjoyed it more with less whinging and more closure at the end.
December 10, 2012
I have to say I was a little disappointed in this book. It wasn't so much a novel but felt like an attempt at "setting the record straight". What was odd though was the author narrating the tale was the made up character from the original novel, not the actual author. So it was still fiction, but all about how the original book was made up and not true to life. As such the characterisation was all very different. As it was more "real" Stella came across as much quieter, and complacent. There were still some brilliant chapters though, particularly about women's rights.
January 12, 2014
Syblla is just one cool chick. She tells it how it is, and it's refreshing that there is no real love plot.
I want to learn more about Miles Franklin and how much of her own life reflects the events in her novels.
I want to learn more about Miles Franklin and how much of her own life reflects the events in her novels.
August 2, 2016
I thoroughly enjoyed this follow up to My Brilliant Career (which I loved too). I am so impressed with the pluck that the young Miles Franklin showed in writing these books. Her "unwomanly" behaviours and attitudes are wonderful. It's no surprise to me that she caused such a stir. Great work!
March 4, 2012
Really interesting to learn the background of Sybylla's autobiography and of people who believed they were the characters.
December 19, 2024
Miles Franklin is a pioneer of intersectional feminism in a time when womens suffrage was only juuuuuust entering social awareness and being met with political response.
Her writing style is unmatched. Her descriptions of the Australian bush have me sighing. Ive been reading Miles Franklin award winners all these years buy i feel like i finally understand the entire Miles Franklin award only after reading My Brilliant Career & My Career Goes Bung.
Highly recommend to feminists, lovers of the australian bush, people interested in history, and people with a twisted sense of humour.
Her writing style is unmatched. Her descriptions of the Australian bush have me sighing. Ive been reading Miles Franklin award winners all these years buy i feel like i finally understand the entire Miles Franklin award only after reading My Brilliant Career & My Career Goes Bung.
Highly recommend to feminists, lovers of the australian bush, people interested in history, and people with a twisted sense of humour.
June 17, 2017
This is the sequel to the best classic book I read all year and what a terrible disappointment it was. Completely changed the characters and the setting, and not for the better. It got too clever for it’s own good and it didn’t work. If I hadn’t enjoyed the first book so much, I may not have been as completely disappointed by this book, but I did and I am.
January 30, 2024
For me, this was a disappointment after having so thoroughly enjoyed her first novel (semi-autobiography): My Brilliant Career. She wrote that between September 1898 when she was 16 and November 1899 when she was 17. It was published in 1901 when she was 21. In 1902 she completed a sequel, the present book, and sent it off to a publisher who rejected it. Supposedly it was because some characters who were putatively fictional were thinly disguised real people (and real important) in Sydney Australia and the publisher feared being sued for libel.
I guess she put it in mothballs for 40 years and sent it off for publication consideration in 1946, at which time it did get published. Franklin withdrew ‘My Brilliant Career’ from publication in 1910 and suspended re-printing until ten years after her death. This was perhaps due, in part, to the hostility the novel provoked from Franklin’s family, who interpreted it autobiographically despite the markers of self-conscious play that characterize the novel’s narratorial perspective. (From https://arts.unimelb.edu.au/engage/co....)
I was for a more interested in Sybylla’s life in ‘My Brilliant Career’ than her life in her hometown and in Sydney in this book, after she had become ‘famous” from publication of her book which was intended to be fiction but was really an autobiography where all sorts of people who were involved in Sybylla’s life in one way or another were characters in the book. And most of them were pissed off on how they were portrayed. More things happened to Sybylla in ‘My Brilliant Career’ than in this book...in which she spent a lot of time railing against being a woman in a patriarchal world. I agreed with most everything she said but she said it 1001 different ways in the book and that was pretty much what the book was largely about.
Reviews (they all liked it a lot more than I did)
• Nicely written and thorough review: https://australianwomenwriters.com/20...
• https://www.bookword.co.uk/my-career-...
• https://heavenali.wordpress.com/2015/...
• https://www.literaryladiesguide.com/b...
Note:
• She appeared to have made up a word: feraboracious. I googled it and came up with a goose egg, other than them finding it in ‘May Career Goes Bung’. Here is the sentence: His reading was feraboracious, but his kindness soothed like oil on a burn. 🤔 🤔 🤔 I dunno, beats the hell out of me what she meant. Google kept on throwing ‘ferocious’ at me when I typed in her word. So maybe that is what she meant.
I guess she put it in mothballs for 40 years and sent it off for publication consideration in 1946, at which time it did get published. Franklin withdrew ‘My Brilliant Career’ from publication in 1910 and suspended re-printing until ten years after her death. This was perhaps due, in part, to the hostility the novel provoked from Franklin’s family, who interpreted it autobiographically despite the markers of self-conscious play that characterize the novel’s narratorial perspective. (From https://arts.unimelb.edu.au/engage/co....)
I was for a more interested in Sybylla’s life in ‘My Brilliant Career’ than her life in her hometown and in Sydney in this book, after she had become ‘famous” from publication of her book which was intended to be fiction but was really an autobiography where all sorts of people who were involved in Sybylla’s life in one way or another were characters in the book. And most of them were pissed off on how they were portrayed. More things happened to Sybylla in ‘My Brilliant Career’ than in this book...in which she spent a lot of time railing against being a woman in a patriarchal world. I agreed with most everything she said but she said it 1001 different ways in the book and that was pretty much what the book was largely about.
Reviews (they all liked it a lot more than I did)
• Nicely written and thorough review: https://australianwomenwriters.com/20...
• https://www.bookword.co.uk/my-career-...
• https://heavenali.wordpress.com/2015/...
• https://www.literaryladiesguide.com/b...
Note:
• She appeared to have made up a word: feraboracious. I googled it and came up with a goose egg, other than them finding it in ‘May Career Goes Bung’. Here is the sentence: His reading was feraboracious, but his kindness soothed like oil on a burn. 🤔 🤔 🤔 I dunno, beats the hell out of me what she meant. Google kept on throwing ‘ferocious’ at me when I typed in her word. So maybe that is what she meant.
May 7, 2024
Nothing really happens in this book! Well that's what it felt like anyway.
It's a really interesting premise, that there are 3 versions of this girl, the original Sybylla in the "autobiography", Miles or Stella the real author, and then this Sybylla fictional author of the "autobiography" in quotations because that original Sybylla was not exactly the same as either the fictional or real author.
Is it confusing yet? I find it all completely captivating! Yet I don't feel like i got to know the 3rd girl of this book at all, she was a little shadow, made up of women's lib and not much else!
I've just finished reading also My Brilliant Sister, and after that it's really hard to feel sympathetic for any version of Stella, I give her her real name as there was nothing for her to hide behind in that book except for the fact that a stranger had fictionalised her story again except through her own sister this time.
I guess what I'm trying to say is that Miles Franklin, the name we know her by, is a very complex and elusive person, I'm not sure if I like her anymore, am very sure I love her still, but am equally as convinced that I do not know her at all. What a trinity!
I've started watching the movie again which I love and I'm now convinced that the aunt is the best character of the lot.
It's a really interesting premise, that there are 3 versions of this girl, the original Sybylla in the "autobiography", Miles or Stella the real author, and then this Sybylla fictional author of the "autobiography" in quotations because that original Sybylla was not exactly the same as either the fictional or real author.
Is it confusing yet? I find it all completely captivating! Yet I don't feel like i got to know the 3rd girl of this book at all, she was a little shadow, made up of women's lib and not much else!
I've just finished reading also My Brilliant Sister, and after that it's really hard to feel sympathetic for any version of Stella, I give her her real name as there was nothing for her to hide behind in that book except for the fact that a stranger had fictionalised her story again except through her own sister this time.
I guess what I'm trying to say is that Miles Franklin, the name we know her by, is a very complex and elusive person, I'm not sure if I like her anymore, am very sure I love her still, but am equally as convinced that I do not know her at all. What a trinity!
I've started watching the movie again which I love and I'm now convinced that the aunt is the best character of the lot.
August 27, 2024
Tbh my main gripe is that this is NOT a sequel to My Brilliant Career and it kinda lacks a plot
September 12, 2024
While it maintains some of the wittiness that made My Brilliant Career so entertaining, this sequel is surprisingly dull. Just a bit of a drag, unfortunately.
July 27, 2022
Delightful Australian story but it also raises important women's issues.
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