The Demidenko Debate

This work looks at the literary, cultural and political controversy surrounding "The Hand That Signed The Paper", its author, and the prizes and distinctions they received. It also discusses the implications of the debate for Australian cultural and political life, raising questions about how far a pluralistic society should tolerate the expression of painful, and even perhaps offensive, views. The book looks at the question of the novel's ideological implications, especially the claim that it reflects a distortion of the history of the Ukraine, that it is motivated by deeply anti-semitic attitudes and that it seeks to deny the Holocaust. It examines the distinction between fiction and propaganda, and raises questions about the responsibility of writers towards history and public opinion. The nature of literary prizes and awards is discussed, together with the relationship between a work of imagination and the real or assumed personality of an author. The views of several participants in the debate and also the opinions of literary, cultural and political commentators are canvassed.