Helen Townsend Helen Townsend i(A34183 works by)
Born: Established: 1947 ;
Gender: Female
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Works By

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1 5 y separately published work icon Above the Starry Frame Helen Townsend , Sydney : Macmillan Australia , 2007 Z1398015 2007 single work biography

'William Irwin was an Irish farm boy who came to Australia alone in 1849, aged 18. As a refugee from Ireland's Potato Famine, he left behind a world of hunger and poverty, and a culture steeped in oppressive tradition. Young and adventurous, and with the will to make something of his life, William set himself up in the heart of gold rush Ballarat, one of the wealthiest 19th century cities in the world. A digger and publican, he was swept up in the events leading to the Eureka Stockade, both as a witness and a player in this landmark event that shaped colonial society.

'William's family were left behind in Ireland. He never returned home, though his family continued to write to him. His great grand-daughter, Helen Townsend, recovered 54 of these letters which span 40 years, and it is from them that she draws powerful inspiration for this book.

'Above the Starry Frame re-imagines the life of William Irwin. It was inspired by those letters, as well as painstaking archival research. It is also a biography of one of the first truly modern cities, and a moving examination of the impact of migration on those who leave and those who stay behind.' (Publisher's blurb)
1 The Water Baby Helen Townsend , 2006 single work autobiography
— Appears in: Good Weekend , 11 March 2006; (p. 45)
1 Mark of Courage Helen Townsend , 2005 single work prose
— Appears in: The Sydney Morning Herald , 3-4 September 2005; (p. 17-18)
1 London on the Line Helen Townsend , 2004 single work prose
— Appears in: Good Weekend , 18 December 2004; (p. 51, 53) Jean Irwin, the author's mother, telephones home to Ballarat from London for Christmas in the 1930s.
1 1 y separately published work icon Curably Romantic Helen Townsend , Pymble : HarperCollins Australia , 2002 Z948216 2002 single work novel humour Leah Jarrett - single mum, infants school teacher, revolutionary! - has just turned 45. It's a time of painful realisations: that taut thighs are a lost dream, that the children aren't grateful and probably never will be, and that after a certain age sex is like rain in the desert. But Leah learns to deal with what she has rather than what she always wanted. She discovers life is often at its absolute best when it's at its absolute worst. Oh, and every so often it pours in the desert! (Publisher's blurb, back cover).
1 2 y separately published work icon Full Circle Helen Townsend , Pymble : HarperCollins Australia , 2000 Z350372 2000 single work novel Libby is half-Chinese and illiterate, quirky, difficult and surprising; grappling with her own demons, with family, work and relationships. Libby's journey takes her from a country town to the city and beyond, from childhood to womanhood. It is a perilous but warmly humorous voyage of self-discovery, peopled with a memorable cast of characters - a greedy aunt, a distant mother, a treacherous lover, a lesbian friend and a determined matriarch, among others. It is an exploration of cultural diversity and longing, of uncertainty and of hope. (Publisher's blurb, back cover).
1 1 y separately published work icon Love Tangle Helen Townsend , Pymble : HarperCollins Australia , 1998 Z513067 1998 single work novel humour romance Juliet is determined to move up in the world - by marrying a doctor and having a big wedding. But she certainly doesn't take love too seriously. Tessa, her cousin, is a free-spirit who thinks marriage is a joke, but secretly craves love. Between them is brendan, a young surgeon, who is becoming aware of the complexities of love and attraction, and the difficulties of wedded bliss. But for all three, finding true love becomes a serious business. (Publisher's blurb, back cover).
1 The Hotseat : A Question for Helen Townsend Helen Townsend , 1997 single work column
— Appears in: The Age , 30 June 1997; (p. C2)
1 y separately published work icon Balancing Act Helen Townsend , Pymble : HarperCollins Australia , 1997 Z505787 1997 single work novel Cassandra has worked hard for her top executive job and her stylish apartment. But she's beginning to think there should be more to life. Her best friend Anthea is also questioning priorities. She has a flamboyant lifestyle and enjoys her job, but is determined to have a child. Susan, Cass's younger sister, seems to live in an idyllic world with her husband and children. However, she feels as if everything is falling down around her. Individually and together, they share the joys and concerns that fill women's lives today. (Back cover.)
1 2 y separately published work icon Turning Point Helen Townsend , Pymble : HarperCollins Australia , 1996 Z144731 1996 single work novel
1 1 y separately published work icon Real Men Helen Townsend , Pymble : Angus and Robertson , 1994 Z508746 1994 single work criticism
1 3 y separately published work icon Heroic Measures Helen Townsend , East Roseville : Simon and Schuster Australia , 1993 Z273173 1993 single work novel Mort Fuller is dying. But rather than pass away gracefully, he falls in love, starts a gold mine and makes life difficult for other people. In this extraoridnary story of the eccentric Fuller family, Helen Townsend weaves a tale of love and sorrow, hope and triumph. Set in the seaside town of Kookaburra Bay one summer, Heroic measures is a novel of great charm that will surprise and delight. (Publisher's blurb, back cover).
1 4 y separately published work icon Miranda's Album Helen Townsend , Brookvale : Simon and Schuster Australia , 1989 Z554053 1989 single work novel
1 1 y separately published work icon Baby Boomers : Growing Up in Australia in the 1940s, 50s and 60s Helen Townsend , Cammeray : Simon and Schuster Australia , 1988 Z151377 1988 single work prose
1 y separately published work icon Outback Women Helen Townsend , Melissa McCord , Sydney Auckland : Doubleday , 1986 Z1453746 1986 single work biography
1 y separately published work icon Phar Lap Helen Townsend , Dee Why West : Lansdowne , 1983 Z49787 1983 single work novel
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