
The House
The dramatic story of the Sydney Opera House and the people who made it
Helen Pitt(Author)
Allen & Unwin (Publisher)
Will be published approx. on 15. August 2018
Book
Paperback/Softback
312 pages
978-1-76029-546-2 (ISBN)
Description
The best-loved building in Australia nearly didn't get off the drawing board. When it did, the lives of everyone involved in its construction were utterly changed: some for the better, many for the worse.
Helen Pitt tells the stories of the people behind the magnificent white sails of the Sydney Opera House. From the famous conductor and state premier who conceived the project; to the two architects whose lives were so tragically intertwined; to the workers and engineers; to the people of Sydney, who were alternately beguiled and horrified as the drama unfolded over two decades.
With access to diaries, letters, and classified records, as well as her own interviews with people involved in the project, Helen Pitt reveals the intimate back story of the building that turned Sydney into an international city. It is a tale worthy of Shakespeare himself.
Helen Pitt tells the stories of the people behind the magnificent white sails of the Sydney Opera House. From the famous conductor and state premier who conceived the project; to the two architects whose lives were so tragically intertwined; to the workers and engineers; to the people of Sydney, who were alternately beguiled and horrified as the drama unfolded over two decades.
With access to diaries, letters, and classified records, as well as her own interviews with people involved in the project, Helen Pitt reveals the intimate back story of the building that turned Sydney into an international city. It is a tale worthy of Shakespeare himself.
Reviews / Votes
'It will fascinate its readers, even those not fortunate enough to be part of Generation Jorn.' - Sydney Morning Herald'This is the closest you'll get to the Opera House walls talking' - AU Review
'Thoroughly researched, colourful and shocking.' - Australian Book Review
More details
Language
English
Place of publication
St Leonards
Australia
Illustrations
16pp b/w, colour photo insert
Dimensions
Height: 235 mm
Width: 153 mm
Thickness: 32 mm
Weight
610 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-76029-546-2 (9781760295462)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Person
Helen Pitt is an award-winning Sydney Morning Herald journalist with over three decades of experience on three different continents (Australia, Europe and the United States.) She has worked as the Herald's opinion editor, as a staff feature writer there, and at The Bulletin, HQ magazine and the New York Times Digital. From walking Papua New Guinea's Kokoda Trail to tracking down Sarah Palin in her Alaskan hometown, her feature writing has won multiple awards including the UN Media Peace prize. This is her first major non-fiction book.
Content
1. A phone call from half a world away
2. The young Jorn
3. Scandi-style
4. The mastermind
5. The ordinary Joe, who gave Sydney its Opera House
6. The magnificent lonely idea
7. Sex magic and the maestro
8. Gentlemen, here is your Opera House
9. And the winner is ...
10. Poetry or pastry?
11. Bennelong pointers
12. Kiss and sell
13. With a little bit of bloomin' luck
14. A mini Greek tragedy
15. Rising up like Aztec gods
16. The spherical solution
17. End of the bromance
18. The arch that changed the world
19. Plain sailing
20. Millions and mullions
21. High noon at the chief secretary's office
22. I am still available
23. This chapter is over
24. Malice in Blunderland
25. SOS to London
26. New man at the Opera House
27. Autopsy on a dream
28. Hall's balls
29. Not a job for boys
30. Opening daze
31. Reconciliation
Notes
Index
2. The young Jorn
3. Scandi-style
4. The mastermind
5. The ordinary Joe, who gave Sydney its Opera House
6. The magnificent lonely idea
7. Sex magic and the maestro
8. Gentlemen, here is your Opera House
9. And the winner is ...
10. Poetry or pastry?
11. Bennelong pointers
12. Kiss and sell
13. With a little bit of bloomin' luck
14. A mini Greek tragedy
15. Rising up like Aztec gods
16. The spherical solution
17. End of the bromance
18. The arch that changed the world
19. Plain sailing
20. Millions and mullions
21. High noon at the chief secretary's office
22. I am still available
23. This chapter is over
24. Malice in Blunderland
25. SOS to London
26. New man at the Opera House
27. Autopsy on a dream
28. Hall's balls
29. Not a job for boys
30. Opening daze
31. Reconciliation
Notes
Index