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y separately published work icon Poison Under Their Lips single work   novel   young adult   historical fiction  
Issue Details: First known date: 2001... 2001 Poison Under Their Lips
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AbstractHistoryArchive Description

'In the year 1876, Arthur Wilbraham, young, Christian, well-educated and idealistic, has come from South Australia to the new Colony of Queensland to help 'save' the natives. Wilbraham joins the Queensland Native Police as a cadet officer. Serving under the infamous Lieutenant Frederick Wheeler, Arthur's education in the methods of this most notorious police force begins. Travelling throughout the central part of the colony, the Native Police undertake their commission to 'disperse troublesome blacks'. Their actions in brutally murdering and raping Aboriginal people give bitter meaning to these words. Their journey is also the journey of Arthur Wilbraham - one which traces his descent into a very personal hell.' - back cover

Notes

  • Dedication: For my wife, Rosamunde Anne There is only the journey and those who ease the way.

Publication Details of Only Known VersionEarliest 2 Known Versions of

    • Port Melbourne, South Melbourne - Port Melbourne area, Melbourne - Inner South, Melbourne, Victoria,: Lothian , 2001 .
      image of person or book cover 2606378141436801498.jpg
      This image has been sourced from online.
      Extent: 208p.
      Description: map.
      ISBN: 0734401833

Other Formats

  • Also sound recording.

Works about this Work

y separately published work icon Death, Gender and Sexuality in Contemporary Adolescent Literature Kathryn James , New York (City) : Routledge Taylor & Francis Group , 2009 Z1790145 2009 single work criticism
'There's a Black Boy Dead and a Migloo Holding a Gun' : Death, Aboriginality and History in Australian Adolescent Literature Kathryn James , 2009 single work criticism
— Appears in: Papers : Explorations into Children's Literature , vol. 19 no. 1 2009; (p. 5-16)
'In 'Preying on the Past: Contexts of Some Recent Neo-Historical Fiction', Peter Pierce argues that, over the last five or so decades, Australian historical fiction has turned away from 'unconstrained and idealistic affirmations about Australia's future' to empathise instead with those figures in the historical landscape who were previously marginalised: 'victims of imperialism, patriarchy, racism, capitalism' (p.307).
This trend is particularly applicable to historical literature for younger readers, which now often tries to renegotiate history by providing a counterpoint to the metanarratives of the past (Stephens 2003, xii-xiii). Reflecting and responding to developments in the disciplines of historiography and, more generally, the humanities, texts in this genre are representative of the attempt to interrogate monolithic versions of Australian history - often called the 'three cheers' view - in which positivity, achievement and the peaceful settlement of the nation are key themes.
At issue in these novels is thus the redressing of past wrongs, particularly with respects to the violent aspects of colonisation when so many members of the Indigenous population either died or were forcibly displaced. Each of the three adolescent novels I focus upon in this paper - Melissa Lucashenko's Killing Darcy (1998), Gary Crew's No Such Country (1991) and Mark Svendsen's Poison Under Their Lips (2001) - is equally idiosyncratic in its approach to narrativising Australia's problematic colonial past' (Author's abstract).
Untitled Jennifer Riggs , 2001 single work review
— Appears in: Fiction Focus : New Titles for Teenagers , vol. 15 no. 3 2001; (p. 40-41)

— Review of Poison Under Their Lips Mark Svendsen , 2001 single work novel
Poison Under Their Lips by Mark Svendsen Ruth Starke , 2001 single work criticism
— Appears in: Viewpoint : On Books for Young Adults , Summer vol. 9 no. 4 2001; (p. 44-45)
Untitled Barbara James , 2001 single work review
— Appears in: Magpies: Talking About Books for Children , September vol. 16 no. 4 2001; (p. 42-43)

— Review of Poison Under Their Lips Mark Svendsen , 2001 single work novel
Untitled Jennifer Riggs , 2001 single work review
— Appears in: Fiction Focus : New Titles for Teenagers , vol. 15 no. 3 2001; (p. 40-41)

— Review of Poison Under Their Lips Mark Svendsen , 2001 single work novel
CoverNotes Lucy Sussex , 2001 single work review
— Appears in: The Sunday Age , 12 August 2001; (p. 11) The West Australian , 1 September 2001; (p. Big Weekend)

— Review of He Died with a Felafel in His Hand : Hilarious True Stories of Share House Accommodation in Australia in the 1990's John Birmingham , 1994 single work novel ; Poison Under Their Lips Mark Svendsen , 2001 single work novel
Exploring Sources of Evil Stephen Matthews , 2001 single work review
— Appears in: The Canberra Times , 20 October 2001; (p. 18)

— Review of Poison Under Their Lips Mark Svendsen , 2001 single work novel ; Dark Wind Blowing Jackie French , 2001 single work novel ; Red Heart Victor Kelleher , 2001 single work novel
Family Business Margaret Robson Kett , 2001 single work review
— Appears in: Australian Book Review , October no. 235 2001; (p. 62-63)

— Review of Destination Unknown : Stories by Young Writers 2001 anthology children's fiction ; Poison Under Their Lips Mark Svendsen , 2001 single work novel ; Are You Listening? Lydia Sturton , 2001 single work children's fiction ; Harriet Huxtable and the Purpose of Rats Louise Pike , 2001 single work children's fiction ; If Only Sarah Walker , 2001 single work novel
Untitled Barbara James , 2001 single work review
— Appears in: Magpies: Talking About Books for Children , September vol. 16 no. 4 2001; (p. 42-43)

— Review of Poison Under Their Lips Mark Svendsen , 2001 single work novel
'There's a Black Boy Dead and a Migloo Holding a Gun' : Death, Aboriginality and History in Australian Adolescent Literature Kathryn James , 2009 single work criticism
— Appears in: Papers : Explorations into Children's Literature , vol. 19 no. 1 2009; (p. 5-16)
'In 'Preying on the Past: Contexts of Some Recent Neo-Historical Fiction', Peter Pierce argues that, over the last five or so decades, Australian historical fiction has turned away from 'unconstrained and idealistic affirmations about Australia's future' to empathise instead with those figures in the historical landscape who were previously marginalised: 'victims of imperialism, patriarchy, racism, capitalism' (p.307).
This trend is particularly applicable to historical literature for younger readers, which now often tries to renegotiate history by providing a counterpoint to the metanarratives of the past (Stephens 2003, xii-xiii). Reflecting and responding to developments in the disciplines of historiography and, more generally, the humanities, texts in this genre are representative of the attempt to interrogate monolithic versions of Australian history - often called the 'three cheers' view - in which positivity, achievement and the peaceful settlement of the nation are key themes.
At issue in these novels is thus the redressing of past wrongs, particularly with respects to the violent aspects of colonisation when so many members of the Indigenous population either died or were forcibly displaced. Each of the three adolescent novels I focus upon in this paper - Melissa Lucashenko's Killing Darcy (1998), Gary Crew's No Such Country (1991) and Mark Svendsen's Poison Under Their Lips (2001) - is equally idiosyncratic in its approach to narrativising Australia's problematic colonial past' (Author's abstract).
y separately published work icon Death, Gender and Sexuality in Contemporary Adolescent Literature Kathryn James , New York (City) : Routledge Taylor & Francis Group , 2009 Z1790145 2009 single work criticism
Poison Under Their Lips by Mark Svendsen Ruth Starke , 2001 single work criticism
— Appears in: Viewpoint : On Books for Young Adults , Summer vol. 9 no. 4 2001; (p. 44-45)
Last amended 15 Aug 2016 14:54:35
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