Henry Handel Richardson Knihy

Set in Australia during the gold-mining boom, this remarkable trilogy is one of the classics of Australian literature. Henry Handel Richardson’s great literary achievement, comprising the novels Australia Felix , The Way Home and Ultima Thule , weaves together many themes. Richard Mahony, despite finding initial contentment with his wife Mary, becomes increasingly dissatified with his ordered life. His restlessness is not understood by Mary, who has to endure the constant shattering of her security as Richard desperately attempts to free himself; his attempts finally plunge them into poverty. In the figure of Richard Mahony, Richardson captures the soul of the emigrant, ever restless, ever searching for some equilibrium, yet never really able to settle anywhere. Richard’s search, though, is also the more universal one for a meaning that will validate and give purpose to his existence.

The narrative explores Richard Mahony's return to England after years in the Australian outback, where he seeks comfort and stability. Despite achieving his dreams, he faces prejudice from the wealthy elite, leading to his challenging decision to return to Australia. The novel delves into themes of mental illness and the sacrifices made by his wife to support their family amidst his decline. This poignant tale, part of a celebrated trilogy, offers a deep reflection on identity and belonging within the context of early 20th-century Australian society.

The narrative follows Laura Tweedle Rambotham, a 12-year-old girl sent to a Melbourne boarding school, where she faces humiliation and disillusionment. As she navigates a harsh environment filled with arrogant peers and professors, her innocence is gradually destroyed. The story explores themes of betrayal and the loss of idealism, culminating in a pivotal moment when Laura cheats on an exam yet escapes punishment. Ultimately, her departure from school symbolizes her desire to escape the oppressive expectations placed upon her.

Set against the backdrop of Australia's gold mining boom, the story follows Richard Mahony, whose aspirations clash with the rugged realities of his environment. Initially a struggling storekeeper, he marries Polly Turnham, who encourages him to pursue a medical career. As Mahony's practice thrives, the narrative delves into themes of mental decline and familial responsibility, highlighting Polly's sacrifices. This novel, the first in a celebrated trilogy, offers a poignant exploration of personal ambition and the impact of societal expectations on mental health.

The subject of this book is a young woman: an awkward, insecure, restless and 'knowing' child who learns that self-realisation depends on rebellion and escape, but that the latter will first demand at least the semblance of conformity. In telling lies, Laura learns both the astonishing allure of fiction and the social costs of stepping beyond the bounds of propriety, gender, class, and family ties. The novel is only in part a fictionalised account of Richardson's school years at the Presbyterian Ladies College, Melbourne, where (unlike her fictional counterpart) she was not only academically successful but also an outstanding student of music. Unusual for stories of school-life, The Getting of Wisdom was clearly aimed at a mature readership able to understand irony and a critique of the colonial educational provision of its day, including a determination to preserve sexual ignorance in young women.

Maurice Guest, ein junger Lehrer, zieht nach Leipzig, um Pianist zu werden. Dort trifft er die geheimnisvolle Louise Dufrayer, was seine Pläne durcheinanderbringt. Die Geschichte entfaltet sich zu einer tragischen Liebesgeschichte und einer Hommage an Leipzig um 1900. Die Neuübersetzung von Fabian Dellemann und Stefan Welz bringt diesen bedeutenden Roman erstmals vollständig ins Deutsche.