This book has been on my "must read" list for a long time, if only for the fact that everyone around me has read it, never mind its canonical status in Australian literature.
A Fortunate Life is an epic yarn of one man's life, simply told, from the horrors of his mistreatment as a child farm worker to the even greater horrors of his experiences at Gallipoli in World War One. Yet the horrors are leavened with stories of humour and great achievement in farming the unforgiving country of rural Western Australia
A standout section for me was the author's recollection of his six months on a cattle drive through central Western Australia
Facey genuinely feels "thrilled" looking back on his life, despite the terrible hardships endured, because he relished a challenge and never faltered in his belief at "having a go at something", always "ready to take a risk and try something new. If it worked out, well good, if not I would just try something else." And he had a go at plenty of things: farming, fencing, dam building, boxing, soldiering, droving, house building, tram and truck driving, union delegate ...
A few chapters into this book and I was shaking my head, asking myself "How much more can this bloke stand?" He meets some wonderfully supportive people along the way, yet is also quite up front with the reader regarding those who mistreated or took advantage of him, including his mother who pretty much abandoned him when he was eight years old. I was amazed at his resilience, not just in surviving but in creating such a full and fulfilling life, a life that encompassed some of the iconic periods of modern Australia.
Highly recommended. A must read, that's if you haven't read it already.
1 comment:
This is a great read - a pure and simple narrative with no analysis. I too can hardly believe that there is no bitterness. Should be required reading for everyone! What an adventure!
js
Post a Comment