In this shimmering work of imagination, one of Australia's most honored writers conjures a single still moment on the edge of the 20th century in which two unlikely people share a friendship. When Ashley Crowther returns to Australia to manage his father's property, he discovers a timeless landscape of kingfishers and ibises; he also meets Jim Saddler, the young woodsman who becomes Ashley's guide to his inheritance. Together they discard the differences of personality and class to enter a partnership of wonder. But when war breaks out in Europe, Jim and Ashley are drawn into obscene enterprise of the trenches, where death falls from the sky and burrows out of the earth. In telling the story of these men, Fly Away Peter combines overwhelmingly sensual imagery with an unblinking consciousness of the worst that history can inflict to produce a novel of phosphorescent beauty.
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"Malouf is subtle, lyric and insistent. His stories enter the memory and stay there." Irish Times "Simply brilliant and naturalistically told" Guardian "The continuities of nature are set against the obscenities of war...to contruct a memorable book" Sunday Telegraph "The novel of a poet without a single trace of overwriting" Daily Telegraph
--This text refers to an alternate
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About the Author
David Malouf is the author of ten novels and six volumes of poetry. His novel The Great World was awarded both the prestigious Commonwealth Prize and the Prix Femina Estranger. Remembering Babylon was short-listed for the Booker Prize. He lives in Sydney, Australia.
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
By Natalie
Format:Paperback
David Malouf's prize winning novel, 'Fly Away Peter' is a beautifully written story that both beautifies and simplifies the life of humans and animals. Malouf has to be considered as one of Australia's leading writers and poets. This novel is not a story to be read if one is after light entertainment. It is truly the work of a poet, a fine piece of literature. His descriptive text beckons the reader to find a deeper meaning. The simple messages of love, friendship and the beauty of life are both refreshing and moving. Do not attempt to read it if you are after cheap thrills. This book needs to be savoured. It follows the lives of three main characters, Ashley, Jim and Imogen. Together they appreciate the joyous beauty of nature by studying and photographing a sanctuary owned by Ashley. However the terror of war rips the paradise apart and leaves the three friends seperated and questioning the meaning of life. Through different experiences, each character comes to a similar conclusion, that life is simple, beautiful and a gift to be enjoyed. It will go on over any hurdles. There are always survivors. An interesting read if you are having difficulties facing each day.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I have read most of Mr. Malouf's novels and he is an Author of remarkable talent and consistency. It has generally not been whether a given work is good, just how very good it is. He almost competes with himself alone when he pens another work. This work, "Fly Away Peter", is closer to a novella in length, but felt a bit crowded when read. It would seem examining an issue in depth, or a general theme in breadth can be accomplished without a regard for length, rather just skill. This time out I felt there was room for two or three times the length of the actual work.
This book promises to deal with the issue of men from different classes of life, how they place the strata of society aside and become partners. And then to narrate how the First World War draws the two different men into its maw. These men are not the only characters, and it is not just their histories the Author must communicate. When all of these aspects are brought together in barely 134 pages, it became incomplete for me, almost claustrophobic. Mr. Malouf is a remarkable writer and poet. To read any of his work is to read great literature from this admired Australian Author.
The four stars may seem to contradict what I have said, however I cannot go back and change all of the previous books of his I have commented upon. This is excellent reading when placed next to much of what is available; it only comes up short when compared to the balance of his work. It certainly is worth the time to read and enjoy, it should probably be placed at the beginning of reading his body of work, rather than near its end.
By vcaslavsky
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
This book is on the summer reading list for my son. He groaned about having to read, but loved this story and the fact that it is not too long. Got him interested in reading the other books on his summer reading list.
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4.2 out of 5 stars
Most recent customer reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
From drinking tea to hallucinations in war...
..Malouf's writing shines with nothing but a beautiful magic in his telling of human existence. Personally I prefered the first half of the book, with his slow but thoroughly... Read more
Published on July 13 2000 by "timdrake111"
4.0 out of 5 stars
Depiction of war in Fly Away Peter
"The interesting part of Fly Away Peter is the depiction of war. The novel moves too slowly until we get to that part. Read more
Published on Mar 9 2000 by David Brady
5.0 out of 5 stars
Nothing can compete to Malouf's work!
Having studied this text for my year 12 studies, I thought that no novel could ever be better than this one. Read more
Published on Sep 21 1999
5.0 out of 5 stars
Powerful Images Of The Horrors Of War
I highly recommend "Fly Away Peter" to anyone who either enjoys reading David Malouf's work or to anyone who may be discovering him for the first time. Read more
Published on Aug 22 1999 by J. Healy
3.0 out of 5 stars
Very naturalistic and philosophical
I read this as a part of my year 12 English studies. Malouf has expressed his thought throughout this book, that despite everything and anything that goes on around us, nature... Read more
Published on Aug 3 1999
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