Cirrus@Austlit

'Art is always like this
Mysterious as light.

'Quiet and insightful, raw in its simplicity, this collection of poems from iconic Australian poet Kate Llewellyn, written between the years of 2000 to 2019, examines a life well lived, dipping in and out of memory to tell a tale of small moments and the wisdom of growing old.

'In the poem 'Harbour' she touches on what is lost and gained in growing up, 'The Big Nothing' draws readers along on a journey to view the world through another's eyes, and 'What They Said' brings forth a cacophony of voices, opinions and dreams across a lifetime.

'Moving, profound and often joyful, this collection is a must-have for all Kate Llewellyn fans.' (Publication summary)

'I've always said I will write anywhere. You could throw me into prison, cut off my arms and legs and you will find me in the morning with a pen in my mouth writing on the floor.

'Collected here for the first time are selected letters from the private correspondence of one of Australia's most loved authors, Kate Llewellyn (The Waterlily, A Fig at the Gate). Written with her distinctive ardour and enthusiasm, skipping some words, shortening others, she discusses poetry, art, sex and gardening with painters and writers.

'Kate Llewellyn's letters brim with energy and humour. Editors Ruth Bacchus and Barbara Hill have sifted through decades of correspondence to produce a volume which reveals her life and work, and the result is a joy to read: a precious insight into the world of one of this country's master wordsmiths.' (Publication summary)

'Fulfilling, funny and utterly beguiling, A Fig at the Gate takes us with Kate Llewellyn, now in her seventies, as she embraces a new phase in her life, establishing and nourishing an entirely new garden in which she finds not only delight but a focus for a meditation on ageing.

'Following the joyful trial-and-error crafting of her gardens in the Blue Mountains and in the north of Wollongong in NSW, Kate buys a house near the sea in Adelaide hoping to reconnect with old friends and family.

'In her bare backyard Kate creates what is mainly a food garden, planting olives, plums, limes and blood oranges, learning how to keep poultry, setting a duck on eggs. She finds joy and solace in the fruiting of her trees and in enjoying the harvest of her own garden. Weather, birds, and learning new skills delight and enrich her. Kate also writes about relishing old friends, making new ones, long companionable beach walks, taking pleasure in old recipes, food and wine, and her three brothers.

'Wise and joyful, accepting what she cannot change while relishing what she has, Kate shares the beauties and frailties of the human condition and shows us what the gifts of ageing can bring.' (Publication summary)