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y separately published work icon Holy Smoke : A Novel single work   novel  
Issue Details: First known date: 1999... 1999 Holy Smoke : A Novel
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AbstractHistoryArchive Description

'A beautiful young woman, Ruth, falls under the spell of an Indian guru. Desperate to rescue her, her family tricks her into returning to Australia, where she is forced to submit to deprogramming. A tough battle of wills ensues.'  (Publication summary)

Adaptations

form y separately published work icon Holy Smoke Jane Campion , Anna Campion , ( dir. Jane Campion ) 1999 United States of America (USA) : Miramax Films , 1999 Z1604122 1999 single work film/TV

During a backpacking holiday in India, Ruth, a young Australian woman, experiences a spiritual awakening at an ashram. Convinced that she has found peace, harmony, and purpose, she decides to stay on with her newfound guru, much to the horror of her family in Australia. Luring her back to suburban Sydney on false pretenses, they employ the services of P.J., an American 'cult-exiter'. The deprogramming encounter that takes place over three days in a shack on an isolated outback farm becomes a battle of wits and wills over spirituality and sexuality.

Returning to the themes of dysfunctional family life that Jane Campion focused on in her first feature film Sweetie, the Campion sisters employ cultural stereotypes to contrast the exotic appeal of Eastern spiritualism for the idealistic Ruth with her family's lack of understanding and crassness. The narrative's central concern with the search for the meaning of life is juxtaposed with moments of high melodrama and with comedic elements drawn from the repertoire of cliched Australian 'types' that were a commonplace of Australian cinema in the nineties. Though Campion clearly demonstrated her cinematic and technical proficiency as a director, some critics consider the story to be somewhat clumsy and overambitious.

Publication Details of Only Known VersionEarliest 2 Known Versions of

    • St Leonards, North Sydney - Lane Cove area, Sydney Northern Suburbs, Sydney, New South Wales,: Allen and Unwin , 1999 .
      image of person or book cover 5989374732497991796.jpg
      This image has been sourced from online.
      Extent: 259p.
      Note/s:
      • Publication date 01 December 1999
      ISBN: 9781865082141
    • New York (City), New York (State),
      c
      United States of America (USA),
      c
      Americas,
      :
      Hyperion ,
      1999 .
      image of person or book cover 7806021198185431342.jpg
      This image has been sourced from online.
      Extent: 259p.
      ISBN: 0786863498
    • London,
      c
      England,
      c
      c
      United Kingdom (UK),
      c
      Western Europe, Europe,
      :
      Bloomsbury ,
      2000 .
      image of person or book cover 4990490532115454173.jpg
      This image has been sourced from online.
      Extent: 259p.
      Edition info: Film tie-in edition
      Note/s:
      • Published 17 April 2000
      ISBN: 9780747547624
Language: Dutch
    • Baarn,
      c
      Netherlands,
      c
      Western Europe, Europe,
      :
      De Prom ,
      1999 .
      image of person or book cover 53542683056415142.jpg
      This image has been sourced from online.
      Extent: 255p.
      ISBN: 9789068016314

Other Formats

Works about this Work

Demon Baba Molly McGrann , 1999 single work review
— Appears in: The Times Literary Supplement , 23 July no. 5025 1999; (p. 23)

— Review of Holy Smoke : A Novel Anna Campion , Jane Campion , 1999 single work novel
Books in Brief Gardner McFall , 1999 single work review
— Appears in: The New York Times Book Review , 27 June 1999; (p. 21)

— Review of Holy Smoke : A Novel Anna Campion , Jane Campion , 1999 single work novel
Om, Om, Om the Story Goes Susan Kurosawa , 1999 single work review
— Appears in: The Weekend Australian , 10-11 July 1999; (p. 12)

— Review of Holy Smoke : A Novel Anna Campion , Jane Campion , 1999 single work novel
Paperbacks Fiona Capp , 1999 single work review
— Appears in: The Age , 10 July 1999; (p. 9)

— Review of Holy Smoke : A Novel Anna Campion , Jane Campion , 1999 single work novel
A Trip that Takes Us into Disturbing Territory Garry Maddox , 1999 single work review
— Appears in: The Sydney Morning Herald , 10 July 1999; (p. 10)

— Review of Holy Smoke : A Novel Anna Campion , Jane Campion , 1999 single work novel
Question of Faith Michael Sharkey , 1999 single work review
— Appears in: Australian Book Review , August no. 213 1999; (p. 30-31)

— Review of The Inquisitor Catherine Jinks , 1999 single work novel ; Holy Smoke : A Novel Anna Campion , Jane Campion , 1999 single work novel
A Trip that Takes Us into Disturbing Territory Garry Maddox , 1999 single work review
— Appears in: The Sydney Morning Herald , 10 July 1999; (p. 10)

— Review of Holy Smoke : A Novel Anna Campion , Jane Campion , 1999 single work novel
Paperbacks Fiona Capp , 1999 single work review
— Appears in: The Age , 10 July 1999; (p. 9)

— Review of Holy Smoke : A Novel Anna Campion , Jane Campion , 1999 single work novel
Om, Om, Om the Story Goes Susan Kurosawa , 1999 single work review
— Appears in: The Weekend Australian , 10-11 July 1999; (p. 12)

— Review of Holy Smoke : A Novel Anna Campion , Jane Campion , 1999 single work novel
Books in Brief Gardner McFall , 1999 single work review
— Appears in: The New York Times Book Review , 27 June 1999; (p. 21)

— Review of Holy Smoke : A Novel Anna Campion , Jane Campion , 1999 single work novel
Devoted Rivals Suzie Mackenzie , 1999 single work biography
— Appears in: The Sydney Morning Herald , 3 July 1999; (p. 9)
Last amended 27 Apr 2022 09:29:05
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