The Watcher on the Cast-Iron Balcony: An Australian Autobiography
by Hal Porter
Hal Porter's autobiography (1)
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Description
Recreating the rhythms of small-town life between the wars, it covers the author's first two decades. From the sensuality of his early boyhood experiences, Porter travels ever-observantly through his Bairnsdale school years to his first job as a cadet reporter. The shock of his mother's death, however, disturbs the pattern of his new adventures as a teacher, art student and actor in Melbourne.Tags
Recommendations
Member Reviews
Hal Porter was born in Victoria, Australia , "missing Edwardian babyhood by nine months." The eldest of 6 children, from a family of modest means. He relates his journey from baby to man with a self absorbed honesty. "I crawl. The Titanic sinks. I stand. The Archduke is assassinated at Sarajevo, and I walk at last into my own memories.."
Memories of early school days, of early sexual experiences, of the fragility of life.
Although not the style of book I would normally like, I could certainly appreciate the quality and honesty of the writing
Memories of early school days, of early sexual experiences, of the fragility of life.
Although not the style of book I would normally like, I could certainly appreciate the quality and honesty of the writing
Magnificent prose, and a remarkable glimpse into an early C20th childhood and adolescence/
See my Sensational Snippets at https://anzlitlovers.com/2023/01/12/sensational-snippets-the-watcher-on-the-cast...
See my Sensational Snippets at https://anzlitlovers.com/2023/01/12/sensational-snippets-the-watcher-on-the-cast...
Ratings
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Lists
Booktopia's 50 Must Read Australian Novels
50 works; 5 members
Australia's Greatest Books, as chosen by Geoffrey Dutton (1985)
97 works; 6 members
Author Information
26+ Works 300 Members
Awards and Honors
Notable Lists
Australia's Greatest Books (1963)
Series
Belongs to Publisher Series
Common Knowledge
- Canonical title
- The Watcher on the Cast-Iron Balcony: An Australian Autobiography
- Original publication date
- 1963
- Important places
- Australia
- Dedication
- For that best of friends Kenneth Slessor
- First words
- In a half-century of living I have seen two corpses, two only.
- Last words
- (Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)I have not even helped Father across the road to the rectory.
Classifications
Statistics
- Members
- 83
- Popularity
- 385,255
- Reviews
- 2
- Rating
- (3.90)
- Languages
- English
- Media
- Paper
- ISBNs
- 7
- ASINs
- 3
