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* Contents derived from the 1995-1996 version. Please note that other versions/publications may contain different contents. See the Publication Details.
The article relates the geographical position and the natural distinctiveness of Australia to its art, culture, and the psyche of its people and their literary output.
The article analyses four poems by Murray, suggesting that 'for Murray the poet, the notion of convergence of three cultures - Aboriginal, rural and urban - is one of the basic planks of what he terms as Vernacular Republic' (40).
The article discusses the Indo-Australian connection in three novels which focus on migrant characters and the issues of assimilation and integration. The author tries to 'signal the changes that have occurred within Australian society in the attitude towards non-European immigrants, but equally the changing attitudes of immigrants themselves towards Australia and Australians' (77).
Author's introduction: 'Two women writers belonging to different hemispheres describe the immigrant experience to arrive at different conclusions. While Susanna Moodie's account was to educate the aspirants to not to risk the journey to Canada, Yasmine Gooneratne tries to drive away such apprehensions by asserting that Australia is a place that would not permit one to return home. This paper seeks to study human predicament in two different hemispheres of people caught up in adverse circumstances.' (87)