Thomas Keneally (Modern Fiction)

This account provides an introduction to Keneally's novels, exploring them in the context of the author's personal and national background. A discussion of four key works, including the Booker prize-winning "Schindler's Ark", focuses on such issues as post-colonialism, the use of violence in literature and attitudes to "outside" cultures. The account also addresses wider issues raised by Keneally's fictional priorities and techniques, examining the way in which his reliance on historical sources reflects the problematic nature of current attitudes to history and the past. This book is mainly for sixth form students and undergraduates (mainly first and second year) in English Literature.