
Fire Fire
Eva Sallis(Author)
Allen & Unwin (Publisher)
Published on 1. July 2004
Book
Paperback/Softback
232 pages
978-1-74114-352-2 (ISBN)
Description
The Houdinis live in a rundown, isolated house called Whispers in the heart of the South Australian bush. Acantia and Pa have fled Germany, where Pa was a famous violinist, to self-educate their children and let their creativity reign free. Acantia teaches her five children the art of painting, music and play, fending off the outside world threatening to impinge upon them. Parental neglect and cruelty is countered by the energetic mad and protective love Acantia dishes out to her family, even when they have no food on the table. Her strange ritualistic rules and regulations govern the family's life until her fervour descends into a madness which has repercussions for each child and the family as a whole. In language spun with masterly control and much humour, Sallis sensitively captures the innocence and confusion of growing up and shows both the love and damage families can cause themselves.
Reviews / Votes
eIn deliberate, tactile prose, Sallis creates a chilling sense of physical decay and emotional corrosion. A marvellous, convincing feat. f ?Kirkus Reviews?ePowerfully and poignantly written. f ?Booklist?More details
Language
English
Place of publication
Sydney
Australia
Target group
College/higher education
Dimensions
Height: 195 mm
Width: 150 mm
Weight
266 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-74114-352-2 (9781741143522)
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
Eva Sallis was born in Bendigo. She has an MA in literature and a PhD in comparative literature from The University of Adelaide where she now teaches. She won The Australian/Vogel Literary Award in 1997 for her first novel, Hiam. Eva's second novel, The City of Sealions, was published in 2002 and her most recent novel, Mahjar, followed in 2003.