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A review by bristoni74
The Harp in the South by Ruth Park
5.0
This book is set in Surry Hills (now a generified inner city suburb in Sydney where the wealthy live) but in 1948 was an inner city slum. My grandmother grew up in Sydney in the 1930’s/40’s and said “decent” people didn’t go near Surry Hills as it was full of violence, prostitution and razor gangs. And my grandmother’s description of where the Darcy’s live is true – it’s a place of poverty, alcoholism and violence.
The Harp in the South is part of a trilogy published in 1948 (but is the 2nd book as its sequel was published in 1949). A prequel was published in 1985 (and is the “first” book). However, I’m reading them in the order they were published. Harp in the South is a beautifully written novel by Ruth Park (born in New Zealand) but immigrated to Australia in the early 1940’s and has won many Australian literary prizes over her lifetime.
I can see why this book was controversial when it was first published in conservative Australia of the late 1940’s as it has some uncomfortable truths about the life of the Darcy family who face hardship and tragedy. It shows the poverty of the time, which is hard to understand from a modern perspective (although poverty still exists, but not in such an overt way and our expectations regarding lifestyle are a lot higher!). The descriptions of the Darcy’s cramped home, the father’s alcoholism, the lack of life’s luxuries (what we take of granted and expect) such as new clothes, holidays and eating out. They barely had enough money to even eat!
Their lives certainly are grim but the characters are loveable and love each other, despite their faults. They still try to be good people and support each other and I reflected on my own life and how I live in world of wealth and opportunity compared to the Darcy’s and I am very grateful
The Harp in the South is part of a trilogy published in 1948 (but is the 2nd book as its sequel was published in 1949). A prequel was published in 1985 (and is the “first” book). However, I’m reading them in the order they were published. Harp in the South is a beautifully written novel by Ruth Park (born in New Zealand) but immigrated to Australia in the early 1940’s and has won many Australian literary prizes over her lifetime.
I can see why this book was controversial when it was first published in conservative Australia of the late 1940’s as it has some uncomfortable truths about the life of the Darcy family who face hardship and tragedy. It shows the poverty of the time, which is hard to understand from a modern perspective (although poverty still exists, but not in such an overt way and our expectations regarding lifestyle are a lot higher!). The descriptions of the Darcy’s cramped home, the father’s alcoholism, the lack of life’s luxuries (what we take of granted and expect) such as new clothes, holidays and eating out. They barely had enough money to even eat!
Their lives certainly are grim but the characters are loveable and love each other, despite their faults. They still try to be good people and support each other and I reflected on my own life and how I live in world of wealth and opportunity compared to the Darcy’s and I am very grateful