The Patrick Hamilton Appreciation Society discussion
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Wake in Fright
Hamilton-esque books, authors..
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Wake in Fright by Kenneth Cook
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I love this book. I loved the film too on the big screen in 1971. I saw the film before reading the book.The big town of 'the Yabba' is based on Broken Hill NSW. I was out there this time last year 2018, travelling on up to Alice Springs NT and on to Darwin.
Nigeyb, I encountered plenty of young Brit backpackers working-holidaying out there, absolutely loving it, working in Roadhouses and towns.
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Both superb
Nigeyb, you know there's only one way to dispel the haunting, you'll have to get out there in the Outback in the sweat, dust and beer. cheers.
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I'm a pale skinned Celt designed to be in chillier northern climes
Not at all sure how I’d missed this particular topic thread.Loved the novel, but the roo scene in the film was entirely too much for me.
As for the Outback, no thanks, Greg. Too difficult to find Cherry Ripe bars, Musk Lifesavers, or those chewy little milk bottles and choco Chico babies...
Nigeyb, I see you're wearing a good hat and shades. You'll need those. The power of fiction and film to fix a perception of place is a magic we are all forever enthralled by. The Outback is vast distances and space but
a somewhat different experience now compared to era when the novel is set. The grey-nomad tourist footprint is everywhere. The Australian camping industry has grown incredibly in the last ten years.
It does bring a bemused smile to see the many luxurious motor-home vans travelling the Outback complete with bathroom and hot shower!
Mark, sorry to disappoint, it's well stocked with cold choc-tops and everything for a sweet tooth.After driving for several hours of dust I stopped at a remote Roadhouse and was served a coffee by a Dutch backpacker, a trained barista.
The silence and stars at night are the best experience.
The roadkill out there is something else, big roos on the road with the occasional huge eagle dining on the carnage.
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Ah Nigeyb, I understand. It is more civilized now, good sealed roads, wi-fi hot spots in the remotest places. The National Parks scenic places, gorges, waterfalls etc, increasingly have signs saying "NO DRONES" annoying buzzing intrusion.
There's so much to enjoy in England and especially London to discover, which reminds me to suggest a group read nomination for HVM's In Search of London and HVM's The Nights of London, the latter is very Hamiltonian.
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Nigeyb wrote: "Thanks Greg - I have still yet to read In Search Of London, and don't even own The Nights of London, but will certainly give you a shout when I'm poised to get to them...."You suspect wrong Nigey!
I've just noticed that I hadn't updated my H. V. Morton section... Definitely one to read for me too.
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The Patrick Hamilton Appreciation Society
Books mentioned in this topic
In Search of London (other topics)The Nights of London (other topics)
In Search of London (other topics)
The Nights of London (other topics)
Wake in Fright (other topics)
With all that in mind, let me heartily recommend Wake in Fright by Kenneth Cook.
Thanks to fellow Hamiltonian Doug H for the heads up. Doug H's review alerted me to this book. It's taken me a while to get to it however it was well worth the wait.
A mere 174 pages it packs a mighty punch. Written in 1961, it powerfully relates John Grant's descent into hell, here also known as outback town Bundanyabba ("the Yabba"). The people of the Yabba feel compelled to subsume any outsiders into their world. The ghastly hospitality of the local yokels provide the guileless fish-out-of-water John Grant with the worst days of his short life and from which he is powerless to escape.
Wake in Fright has rocketed into my list of all time books.
Click here to read my review
5/5