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fourtriplezed's review
5.0
Trap is the eponymous antihero whose story is told in the first person by the doltish David David, the epitome of the dithering bureaucrat sent by the authorities to find out what Jack Trap is actually up to. With that we get the life and family history of the infamous mixed-race part Aboriginal, Irish and Tierra Del Fuegian as personally told to David by Trap himself. David presents the story in diary form. We find that trap is everything that the authorities distrust and fear, and an individual that outraged the nation and those that knew him. Trap was everything from a hangman to a green activist and plenty in-between. He had contempt for all in certain parts of society.
Winner of the 1966 Miles Franklin Award and now seemingly long forgotten. I found a much worn copy at Liflelines Bookfest. It is the only time I have seen it anywhere and in such poor condition was this copy it fell apart after 20 pages. I had to glue the spine to make comfortable reading.
Why is it seemingly long forgotten? Lisa at the ever superb ANZ Lit Lover blog may nail it with the following comment, “I found this prose style wearisome after a while, and the plot is hard to follow. Mathers is so busy having a go at the objects of his scorn that he leaves the hapless reader floundering in a morass of characters and sub-plots from Trap’s sordid family history. The book was probably innovative in 1967 and it had an important message for its time – but it hasn’t worn well, in my opinion.”
And fair enough, in fact it is very hard not to disagree that the prose style is rather overtly idiosyncratic, the plot is hard to follow and the author’s scorn? Scornful sums this book up. Be that as it may, I personally think this to be a hidden gem. Fiercely satirical, dripping with sarcasm and wildly comedic, it had me laughing out loud several times. This is one almighty attack on the idiotic policy of White Australia and Terra Nullius so entrenched in Australia at the time of writing. Author Peter Mathers smashed this inane doctrine to smithereens, with no fears as to whom he may have offended. Maybe that was the attraction to the judges.
Interestingly, where Lisa found the book dated I thought that there was a lot I could relate to modern Australian society. The race and migration debate seems little changed to me from the 60’s (and 70’s). Australia just seems to have just changed the names. No longer Italians and Greeks to be sneered at, we have just moved on from East Asians and at this point in time we fear now those from the Middle East. And as to the Chinese and the UN being a threat to our way of life? If one read the only national daily these fears have not much changed. At one point Traps interrogators condescendingly enquire of him.
…..Trap, man, it has been rumoured that you are organising a threat to the country. First, by petitioning the United Nations; second, by signing a secret agreement with the Red Chinese. Do you admire the United Nations? Do you see yourself a Red Agent?…….
…….Ours is happy land, strife free and rich. (They coaxed.) Please help us keep it that way.
Lisa’s outstanding review gave me food for thought when giving this book consideration and I recommend it and her outstanding blog. https://anzlitlovers.com/2010/07/18/trap-by-peter-mathers-bookreview/
I will try and reread Trap one day. Most enjoyable.
Winner of the 1966 Miles Franklin Award and now seemingly long forgotten. I found a much worn copy at Liflelines Bookfest. It is the only time I have seen it anywhere and in such poor condition was this copy it fell apart after 20 pages. I had to glue the spine to make comfortable reading.
Why is it seemingly long forgotten? Lisa at the ever superb ANZ Lit Lover blog may nail it with the following comment, “I found this prose style wearisome after a while, and the plot is hard to follow. Mathers is so busy having a go at the objects of his scorn that he leaves the hapless reader floundering in a morass of characters and sub-plots from Trap’s sordid family history. The book was probably innovative in 1967 and it had an important message for its time – but it hasn’t worn well, in my opinion.”
And fair enough, in fact it is very hard not to disagree that the prose style is rather overtly idiosyncratic, the plot is hard to follow and the author’s scorn? Scornful sums this book up. Be that as it may, I personally think this to be a hidden gem. Fiercely satirical, dripping with sarcasm and wildly comedic, it had me laughing out loud several times. This is one almighty attack on the idiotic policy of White Australia and Terra Nullius so entrenched in Australia at the time of writing. Author Peter Mathers smashed this inane doctrine to smithereens, with no fears as to whom he may have offended. Maybe that was the attraction to the judges.
Interestingly, where Lisa found the book dated I thought that there was a lot I could relate to modern Australian society. The race and migration debate seems little changed to me from the 60’s (and 70’s). Australia just seems to have just changed the names. No longer Italians and Greeks to be sneered at, we have just moved on from East Asians and at this point in time we fear now those from the Middle East. And as to the Chinese and the UN being a threat to our way of life? If one read the only national daily these fears have not much changed. At one point Traps interrogators condescendingly enquire of him.
…..Trap, man, it has been rumoured that you are organising a threat to the country. First, by petitioning the United Nations; second, by signing a secret agreement with the Red Chinese. Do you admire the United Nations? Do you see yourself a Red Agent?…….
…….Ours is happy land, strife free and rich. (They coaxed.) Please help us keep it that way.
Lisa’s outstanding review gave me food for thought when giving this book consideration and I recommend it and her outstanding blog. https://anzlitlovers.com/2010/07/18/trap-by-peter-mathers-bookreview/
I will try and reread Trap one day. Most enjoyable.
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