The Life and Myth of Charmian Clift

Description

This is a biography of Charmian Clift, one of Australia's most charismatic and misunderstood writers. Clift was born in Kiama, New South Wales, in 1932. In this close-knit seaside community Clift felt an outsider and rebelled against the expectations of the working-class town. The beautiful, complex and intelligent young country girl grew into a forthright and witty woman who, after a stint in the war-time army, began a career as a journalist with the Melbourne newspaper "The Argus". It was here that she met the "golden boy" war correspondent George Johnston. Within a short space of time Clift and Johnston had collaborated on the prize-winning novel "High Valley", moved to London and then shocked everyone by giving up the sophisticated London life and moving their family to a Greek island to focus on their careers as writers. The ten years Clift spent in Greece saw her the write the memoirs "Mermaid Singing" and "Peel Me a Lotus", as well as two novels "Walk to the Paradise Gardens" and "Honour's Mimic".

Nadia Wheatley is a multi-award winning Australian author. She has written many books for children, including MY PLACE (illustrated by Donna Rawlins), which won the 1988 CBCA Book of the Year Award for Younger Readers. Nadia lives in Sydney.