Cirrus@Austlit

Australia's Ambivalence Towards Asia 'considers contemporary and historical examples from Australian culture, literature, politics, media and society, contrasting Asian traditions and the experience of non-Anglo migrants in Australia. This is an account of the worldview underlying much of Anglo-Australian culture, of the difficulty it has had in understanding Asia and Asians, and in constructing a meaningful and durable relationship with Asian societies and cultures.' (Publisher's blurb)

A significant section of the book (p.199-269) focuses on Blanche D'Alpuget's Turtle Beach, a novel published in 1981 and set in Malaysia. D'Cruz and Steele examine the novel's theoretical, cultural and political framework, and deconstruct the manner in which the book positions the reader.