Cirrus@Austlit

'The Supplement to the Bibliography of Australian Literature (BAL) completes the most comprehensive reference to Australian creative writing ever published. The four volumes of BAL recorded details of all separately published creative literature by Australian writers from 1788 to 2000. Core genres covered were poetry, fiction, drama and children’s writing. This Supplement includes some 2700 new Australian authors and over 7000 titles by them. It also provides new and updated information on many of the authors listed in the original four volumes.

'BAL and the Supplement have no canon. All books and pamphlets in the core genres published by Australian authors are included, regardless of perceived or accepted literary merit. To BAL, the self-published book of verse is as important as the prize-winning novel by an established author.

'For each work in a core genre, details of the first edition and, where applicable, the first Australian, UK, US, Canadian and New Zealand editions are listed, as well as significant new or revised editions and translations. Awards won and additional information relevant to individual authors and titles are also included. Where an author has also published in other fields (e.g. biography), titles are selectively listed under ‘Other Works’ or mentioned in the ‘Comment/s’ section. Indexes of titles and pseudonyms and various writing names enhance the extensive alphabetical author listing.

'This Supplement, like its predecessors, is an essential source for the study of Australian literature to the end of the twentieth century.' (Publication summary)

'The pattern [which] had begun to form...was still spreading; still fanning out in depth and intensity, still incomplete ... Unaware of their allotted places in the general scheme of joy and sorrow, light and shade [they] went about their personal affairs as usual, unconsciously weaving and interweaving the individual threads of their private lives into the complex tapestry of the whole' (Picnic at Hanging Rock).

In 1956 Joan Lindsay gave a talk at the Lyceum Club in Melbourne entitled 'Repeat Pattern'. This talk is now completely forgotten, yet it is significant in the development of her thought. In her talk she explained the concept of 'repeat pattern' as follows: 'I believe that the pattern of every human life is like any other pattern, containing at ever recurring intervals what the designer of textiles calls a REPEAT. When the Repeat occurs the design resolves itself and begins all over again, thus fulfilling the original rhythm with which it began. Inch by inch, yard by yard, the pattern of the woven material takes shape. Hour by hour, day by day, the intricate and less easily recognizable tapestry of human life is worked out. The repeat is often at long intervals, often disguised in the complexity of the whole, but it is always there.'

This is almost certainly the first time that Joan Lindsay set down her philosophy on the relationship between human life and time - something she would develop initially in her book of autobiographical reminiscences Time Without Clocks, but especially in Picnic at Hanging Rock.
Since the publication in 1967 of the novel, and especially since the release of the film in 1975, the disappearance of three schoolgirls and their teacher, Miss McCraw, on Hanging Rock on St Valentine's Day 1900 has become a puzzle which many people have tried to solve - there have even been two books published on the subject. Hitherto those trying to solve the puzzle have concentrated mainly on events in the book or film. In this talk I approach the mystery from a different perspective, by looking at a few relevant events in Joan Lindsay's life up to 1956, and also by examining some things of importance to her. What I have chosen are pieces of a 'repeat pattern', which I believe will provide an insight not only into Joan's thinking, but also throw some light on what happened at Hanging Rock on that fateful day in 1900.

The pieces of the 'repeat pattern' which are examined in some detail are:
(a) The role of St Valentine's Day in Joan Lindsay's life
(b) Her friendship with her cousin Martin Boyd (q.v.).
(c) Two strange encounters with nuns which left a lasting impression on her.
(d) A mystery ship or two.
(e) People in an alien landscape, and two paintings at the National Gallery of Victoria.
(f) An article by a Miss McCraw, a teacher at Clyde School, in The Cluthan, the Clyde School magazine.
(g) clocks and watches that stop.
Putting these pieces of the pattern together provides an important clue as to what happened at Hanging Rock - at least on the literal level.

'The Bibliography of Australian Literature P-Z is the fourth and final volume of a major collaborative national bibliographical project recording details of all separately published creative literature by Australian writers from European arrival in Australia to the end of the 20th century.

'Genres covered are poetry, drama, fiction and children's writing. One of the strengths of this unique multi-volume work is that it has no canon, aiming to include all works by all Australian authors regardless of perceived literary merit. For each work details of the first edition are listed, as well as significant new or revised editions and translations. Biographical details, awards and other additional information relevant to an individual author or title is also included.' (Publisher's blurb)

'The Bibliography of Australian Literature K-O is the third of a planned five volume bibliography which aims to record details of all separately published published creative literature by Australian writers from European arrival in Australia to the end of the 20th century.

'The Bibliography of Australian Literature records details of all separately published creative literature by Australian writers over the last two centuries. Genres covered are poetry, drama, fiction and children's writing. It has no canon, aiming to include all works by Australian authors regardless of perceived literary merit. For each work details of the first edition are listed, as well as significant new or revised editions and translations. Awards won and additional information pertinent to an individual title or author is also included.' (Publisher's blurb)