Anatomy of the Literary Hoax (ASLT2618)
Department of English - University of Sydney
Semester 2 / 2008

Texts

y separately published work icon The Darkening Ecliptic 'Ern Malley' , Melbourne : Reed and Harris , 1944 Z339108 1944 collected work poetry (taught in 4 units)
y separately published work icon The Hand that Signed the Paper Helen Demidenko , St Leonards : Allen and Unwin , 1994 Z828685 1994 single work novel (taught in 2 units)

'The brothers Kovalenko...did not kill Jews just because they were poor and Ukrainian, and did not know any better. They killed Jews because they believed that they themselves were savages.'

'The Hand that Signed the Paper tells the story of Vitaly, a Ukrainian peasant, who endures the destruction of his village and family by Stalin's communism. He welcomes the Nazi invasion in 1941 and willingly enlists in the SS Death Squads to take a horrifying revenge against those he perceives to be his persecutors.

'This remarkable novel, a shocking story of the hatred that gives evil life, is also an eloquent plea for peace and justice.' (Publication summary)

Degrees

Bachelor of Arts (Advanced) (Honours)

Description

In 1944 two Australian poets devised what has been called the twentieth century's greatest literary hoax. So many hoaxes have ensued in this country that they can be linked to the national psyche. This unit examines the history, theory and poetics of the literary hoax before exploring its key Australian manifestations, and questioning the relative weight of Australian and international factors (e.g. the postmodern interrogation of authenticity) in their generation.

Assessment

One 1500 wd essay, one 3000 wd take-home exam, tutorial presentation

Supplementary Texts

Resource Book will be available, containing selections and excerpts from Psalmanaazar, Swift, Chatterton,Macpherson, W.H.Irelend, Floupette, The Spectra Poems, and other Australian hoaxes.

R.K.K.Ruthven, Faking Literature

David Brooks, The Sons of Clovis

Michael Hayward, The Ern Malley Affair

Ian Hayward, Faking it:Art and the politics of forgery

Jost, Totaro er al. The Demidenko File

William Jay Smith, The Spectra Hoax

Other Details

Levels: Undergraduate
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