Book Details

Martin Boyd

A Life

Second Edition

Brenda Niall

A new edition of Brenda Niall's exploration of Martin Boyd's complex personality and his literary and personal journey.

Opinion

‘This celebrated biography, first published in 1988, is a model of research and precision, charting Boyd’s early years in Melbourne . . . the crucible of WWI, the importance of religion and, of course, writing. It’s an undeniably essential compendium.’ (Age, 15/5/2004)

‘Dr Niall’s biography tempts one towards a string of laudatory adjectives: it is wise, discriminating, authoritative, modest, kindly and perceptive . . . I expect it, like Martin Boyd’s novels, to go on yielding further pleasdures with each rereading.’ (Australian Book Review, June/July 2004)

About this Title

'The First World War released in Martin Boyd the blazing anger of a romantic betrayed.'
Barrett Reid, Age

He was one of the generation whose lives were forever changed by the futility and barbarism of the Western Front. His writing style was forged out of the despair of his wartime experience and the contrasting civility and urbanity of his life.

Brenda Niall, award-winning biographer of The Boyds, uncovers Martin's complex personality -- witty, generous, sociable, yet deeply reserved -- and takes you on his literary and personal journey to find his ‘home of the spirit’.

Martin Boyd, the novelist member of the Boyd artistic dynasty, is now ranked with Henry Handel Richardson and Christina Stead as a major Australian writer.

About the Author

Brenda Niall is one of Australia's best-known biographers and has won several major literary awards. Her books include The Boyds (2002), Georgiana: A Biography of Georgiana McCrae (1994), Seven Little Billabongs: The World of Ethel Turner and Mary Grant Bruce, and Australia Through the Looking-Glass: Children’s Fiction 1830–1980.

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978-0-522-85131-1