A Cruel Man Delighting in Flowers
...the mildness to which men ... had yielded was only half of the intoxication of beauty, while the other half ... was of such surpassing and terrible cruelty—the most cruel of men delights himself with a flower—that beauty ... failed quickly of its effect...
Hermann Broch, The Death of Virgil
Jeremy Davies is made of ink, but don’t dip a feather in him. It tickles. He once painted a fingernail black and no one really noticed. He was disappointed. He’s also an editor, a religious atheist, a liker of strong coffees, a Shakespeare-lover, a political anarchist and someone who rarely has a pen when he needs one. He has been a PhD candidate, a personal trainer, a life model, a bouncer, an infantry soldier and someone who rarely had a pen when he needed one. He has had words published in a variety of places, in a variety of publications, in a variety of forms, in a variety of moments: Canada, Wet Ink, SMS and twelve minutes past three in the afternoon being some of these. His first novel, 'Missing Presumed Undead', will be re-published by Satalyte Publishing in February 2014. A second is on its way.
Sons of the Rumour
David Foster is a marvelous throw-back sort of author while simultaneously being at the very cutting edge of Australian literature. There's enough edge in this novel to shave an Irishman. Bare. Comparing it to Peter Temple's Miles Franklin winning 'Truth' ('Sons of the Rumour' didn't make the shortlist!! - and I hate multiple punc marks...) Is a little like the difference between a well-executed game of high school basketball, and an NBA championship match. It is clever and readable, and packs punch. There's passages of such beauty and irony and insight that your breath can be taken away. I know it's a cliche, but fuck it, it's true. Does hatred frighten you? Love too? If you want to be authentic with your art then you need to not be, no matter what mis... or ...ism the politburo may wish to worry you. This book is a brilliant, talented author at the top of his powers. You should read. Savour. It won't last.
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