Nourma Handford Nourma Handford i(A20280 works by) (birth name: Nourma Morrison)
Also writes as: Nourma Abbotsmith ; Nourma Abbott-Smith
Born: Established: 2 Oct 1903 Brisbane, Queensland, ; Died: Ceased: 4 Jan 1995 New South Wales,
Gender: Female
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Works By

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1 y separately published work icon Ian Fairweather Nourma Abbott-Smith , St Lucia : University of Queensland Press , 1978 Z1079921 1978 single work biography
1 y separately published work icon White Girl, Brown Skin Nourma Abbotsmith , Adelaide : Rigby , 1969 Z800673 1969 single work
1 1 y separately published work icon Fools of Time Nourma Handford , London : Robert Hale , 1958 Z337941 1958 single work novel
1 y separately published work icon Carcoola Backstage : A Career Novel for Girls Nourma Handford , Sydney : Dymocks , 1956 Z430520 1956 single work novel romance young adult

'The story of group of young people who love the theatre, this is a book of the stage, with the familiar background and character of Carcoola Downs–and a young flying doctor.'

Source:

Advertisement, Canberra Times, 4 January 1957, p.4.

1 y separately published work icon Coward's Kiss : A Novel Nourma Handford , Sydney : Dymocks , 1954 Z362996 1954 single work novel

'On the last plane out of Communist-besieged Tao-ling, Lisa, and Austrian ex-patriot, meets two men: Marcus, whom she marries, and Richard, who cannot forget her.

The story of Lisa's love for both her husband and for her lover and of the conflicts which prevent her from abandoning a derelict marriage is told with sympathetic warmth.

The plot, tightly knit, moves fast against a backdrop of vivid beauty - that sparkling strip of wooden hill lying between the Pacific ocean and the calm waters of Broken Bay.

Equal in significance, however, is the characterisation which brings the story to life; Richard's mother, vital, indomitable, obtuse; Ernest, who asks only for affection; Cassandra, who has known love and cannot accept a substitute; and lastly and most penetratingly, Mrs. Moult, the Dutch refugee, insecure, frightened, warped.

Coward's Kiss is a novel of today. It mirrors the complexities of a changing world with its shifting standards and nebulous values. It is a story in which most readers will see something of themselves.' (Publisher's blurb)

1 3 y separately published work icon Blood on the Leaves : A Novel of Present-Day Malaya Nourma Handford , Sydney : Dymocks , 1953 Z528688 1953 single work novel

'In this gripping story of present-day Malaya, the first novel drawn from the conflict in the Peninsula, action, lust and topicality pack the pages, which tell of the tough, bitter struggle between the rubber planters and the Communist guerrillas. It is the story of men who live with danger twenty-four hours of the day; of women who, separated from their husbands, uncertain of the future, live dangerously in the hotels of sophisticated Singapore; of the Malays, a simple, happy people torn between their feeling of oneness with the age-old neighbours, the Malayan Chinese, and their loyalty to the white Tuans, who provide them with a livelihood and deal justly with them.

'It is the story of one man's love for the Malayan girl who becomes his mistress and whose childlike gaiety and simple devotion offer him the only refuge from a nightmare existence.

'In moving contrast with this is his neighbour, Bellew, frantic with misery when his child is murdered on the plantation, tormented by rumours of his wife's infidelities, who dedicates himself to a vengeance which ultimately destroys him.

'Above all, Blood on the Leaves is the picture sharp, poignant and clear cut, of the oft repeated pattern of Communist rapacity as it spreads its red fungus of hate and terrorism, and of the efforts of Western civilisation, awakening, perhaps too late, to stem it.

'Blood on the Leaves is not for the squeamish, but it is a book which will be read.' (Publisher's blurb)

1 y separately published work icon Carcoola Holiday Nourma Handford , Sydney : Dymocks , 1953 Z430307 1953 single work novel young adult romance

''Carcoola Holiday' has all the sparkling humor of Miss Handford's previous books for girls. As a counter to the feminine activities of Hope, and the twins Ann-Anne and Dimity, the two boys Rory and Jonesy, familiar figures to readers of the Carcoola books, provide their own quota of nuisance-creating. This time they decide to write a radio serial. The result may easily be imagined.

'A new and welcome addition to the Carcoola characters is a New Australian girl, Zelie. The gradual acceptance of the Australian way of life by this Czech girl is described by the authoress with sympathy and sincerity.

'For young readers who crave excitement, there plenty of that type of action to be expected on an Australian sheep station.'

Source:

'Book Review: "Carcoola Holiday",' Newcastle Sun, 22 October 1953, p.21.

1 y separately published work icon Carcoola Adventure Nourma Handford , Sydney : Dymocks , 1952 Z430106 1952 single work novel young adult romance

'Hope, a country girl manages her father's sheep property. Fran is her house guest and, being newry engaged, is inclined to live in a romantic vacuum. Rory is a typical schoolboy with outstanding talent in the game of harassing adults.

'The adventure come to a climax when three cattle thieves are captured.'

Source:

'Literary Nook', Cairns Post, 27 September 1952, p.8.

1 y separately published work icon Carcoola : A Story for Girls Nourma Handford , Sydney : Dymocks , 1950 Z429903 1950 single work novel young adult romance

A newspaper report on the novel's commendation at the Children's Book Council Book of the Year awards described it as 'a tale of schoolgirl twins on an outback station, with a romance between their brother and a squatter's daughter thrown in.'

Source:

'Prizewinner for Children', Sunday Herald, 5 August 1951, p.11.

1 y separately published work icon Cottontrees Nourma Handford , London : Collins , 1948 Z431560 1948 single work children's fiction children's

A Christmas story set in Dr Alan Grant's home, Cottontrees.

1 3 y separately published work icon High River Nourma Handford , Sydney : Shakespeare Head Press , 1947 Z528789 1947 single work novel
1 y separately published work icon Carcoola Nourma Handford , 1945-1956 8451126 1945 series - author novel young adult romance
1 2 y separately published work icon Three Came from Britain Nourma Handford , Sydney : Patten Bros. , 1945 Z831523 1945 single work novel young adult romance During WWII, Doctor Alan Grant decides that he and his family should host some of the children who are being evacuated from England. In England, Doctor Harvey decides to send his three youngest children to Australia, where they will stay with the Grants.
1 y separately published work icon Doctor Alan Grant Series Nourma Handford , 1945-1948 8451223 1945 series - author novel
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