Congratulations to Dr. Yvonne Smith on another excellent review of her book, David Malouf and the Poetic: His Earlier Writings, this time by Australian Book Review.
The review notes that:
While not a biography per se, the book employs considerable biographical detail to good effect. … Smith covers this biographical record admirably, and uses it judiciously with regard to Malouf ’s published output. Her considerable original research, via interviews, diaries, letters, and drafts of Malouf ’s work is also put to good literary-critical use. In this respect, David Malouf and the Poetic is a major resource for any student of Malouf ’s work. … Smith’s approach – biographical and descriptive analysis – proves to be a powerful way to produce new insights into old works, a number of which (especially Johnno and An Imaginary Life) have already acquired a sizeable critical literature. … Happily, Smith’s study helps us to pay closer attention, in turn, to Malouf ’s important body of early work.
This book is in the Cambria Australian Literature Series, headed by Dr. Susan Lever.