The gould of the title is an historical figure, a painter, and his marvelous fishillustrations are reproduced here, one for each of the twelve sections of the novel. Reading it open mouthed, gasping at the richness and complexity of the text that clearly defies categorisation and classification, one feels intimately connected, while in. Acclaimed as a masterpiece around the world, goulds book of fish is at once a. Goulds book of fish, vintage classics by richard flanagan. Only a talented wordsmith can so stimulate the imagination to create scenes that leap so clearly from the page. From the publisher the novel from author richard flanagan, gould s book of fish is a tragicomic tapestry of nineteenthcentury australia, a world of convicts and colonists, thieves and catamites, whose bloody history is recorded in a very unusual taxonomy of fish. A novel in twelve fish is a 2001 novel by tasmanian author richard. Goulds book of fish, an extraordinary work of factbased fiction by tasmanian author richard flanagan death of a river guide is a journey through the fringe. Richard flanagans goulds book of fish is a very appealing book.
A novel in twelve fish 2001, about a 19thcentury convict living in tasmania, was awarded the 2002 commonwealth writers prize for best book as well as the commonwealths regional prize for best book. Established in sydney in 1967 goulds book arcade is australias largest retailer of used, remaindered, outofprint and rare books under one roof. A novel in twelve fish is about as different a book as it is possible to imagine in comparison to his previous two worksand for that matter, in comparison to its fiction. Goulds book of fish by flanagan, first edition abebooks. For all of the shifts in goulds book of fish, with things like time, history, identity, and power all variable, there are some constants, and this is the basis on which the book is built. Billy goulds diary, written on his own secret copy of the book of fish, tells horrific stories of the penal colony, many of which are true.
Yes, it is worth the effort, because it is an interesting, unusual, poetic, mysterious, amusing, ironic, colourful, novel. In april 2011 goulds original sketchbook of fishes was recognised as a document of world significance by unesco. What makes goulds book of fish remarkable is its reconciliation of metafictionality with humanity. He published a number of monographs on birds, illustrated by plates that he produced with the assistance of his wife, elizabeth gould, and several other artists including edward lear, henry constantine richter, joseph wolf and william matthew hart. Goulds book of fish by richard flanagan waterstones. Goulds book arcade, for 50 years the last word for sydneys discerning leftwing readers, has. The basic theme of this book a picaresque journey, which recounts the terrible travails of an unfortunate man who somehow surmounts many of his problems is as old as literature. Theyve routed the socialists and killed words on the page in newtown.
His novels, death of a river guide, the sound of one hand clapping, goulds book of fish, the unknown terrorist, wanting and the narrow road to the deep north have received numerous honours and are published in twentysix countries. The authoritarian fear that language might get out of control has led to. Goulds book of fish a novel in 12 fish by richard flanagan grove press. Another is its corollaries, racism, brutality, and hatred clear and obvious evils. But the stories swing wildly between historical fact and fiction, and goulds style, as befits a murderous convict, is crude, funny, disgusting and caustic by turn. The book has inspired many others, including graham swifts booker prize winning last orders, which i highly recommend. How to catch flathead on soft plastics mostly dusky flathead fishing video ep. Regarded internationally as one of australias best novelists, his multiawardwinning novels, death of a river guide, the sound of one hand clapping, goulds book of fish, the unknown terrorist, and wanting have been published to popular success and critical acclaim in twentyfive countries. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. Acclaimed as a masterpiece around the world, goulds book of fish is at once a marvelously imagined epic of nineteenthcentury australia and a contemporary fable, a tale of horror, and a celebration of love, all transformed by a convict painter into pictures of fish. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading goulds book of fish.
For one, it is very attractively presented and packaged. Goulds book of fish is a fictionalised account of the convict william buelow goulds life both at macquarie harbour and elsewhere during his life in van diemens land. Flanagans tale is a riotous one, a dazzling combination of loveliness and grotesquerie, fancy and fact. My wonder upon discovering the book of fish remains with me yet. Richard flanagans latest novel, goulds book of fish, tells old stories in unlikely places. The work inspired tasmanian author richard flanagan to write his novel, gould s book of fish. Goulds book grows ever madder and more enthralling, as he traces white australias genocidal mistreatment of the aborigine population, and draws appallingly vivid images of such garish figures as the colonys scrofulous commandant, the ghoulish lempriere, and prison storekeeper and renegade historian jorgen jorgensen, and retells the.
Goulds book of fish richard flanagan 404pp, atlantic books. He directed a feature film version of the sound of one hand clapping in 1998. Goulds book of fish, richard flanagan shop online for. He won the man booker prize for the narrow road to the deep north in 2014. Discovery of the book of fishfake furniture and faith healingthe congamr hung and moby dickvictor hugo and goda snowstormon why history and stories have nothing in commonthe book disappearsdeath of great aunt maisiemy seductiona male seahorse gives birththe fall i. It is not an easy read and takes a while to get into. Goulds book of fish should you read it will probably be the most bizarre book you will read in the next 10 years.
He was president of the tasmania university union and a rhodes scholar. Bruce barcott, outside a daring and inventive new work. Reviewed by paul devlin this profoundly awful book, by tasmanian writer richard flanagan, which was first published in australia in 2001, and has since been hailed as a masterpiece by credible publications all over the englishspeaking world, had a lot of potential as an idea. His first, death of a river guide 1994, was shortlisted for the miles franklin award, as were his next two, the sound of one hand clapping 1997 and goulds book of fish 2001. The convict william gould, the eponymous narrator in goulds book of fish 2001, is only. Robyn holthouse i have read richard flanaghans goulds book of fish. In 1828, a convicted forger is exiled to van diemans. Deloris tarzan ament, seattle times goulds book of fish reads like an unwanted relation of tom jones, set where the land was wild and its immigrants wilder. Thus begin the fabulous adventures of william buelou gould.
Many of the alarming events described in goulds book of fish are representative of what mr. Gould s book of fish is a book of marvels, beautifully written and appropriately beautifully produced, so that the physical artifact actually strengthens and reinforces the tale. I started to read goulds book of fish by richard flanagan and ive came across some questions. Alex clark on richard flanagans goulds book of fish. His novels death of a river guide, the sound of one hand clapping, goulds book of fish, the unknown terrorist, wanting, the narrow road to the deep north and first person have received numerous honours and are published in 42 countries. Richard flanagan was born in longford, tasmania, in 1961.
Goulds life in van diemens land was the subject of the awardwinning historical fiction novel goulds book of fish 2001, written by richard flanagan, centring on goulds production of the sketchbook of fishes. He directed a feature film version of the sound of one hand clapping. Complete summary of richard flanagans goulds book of fish. Goulds book of fish by richard flanagan penguin books. If you wish to have your personal details removed from goulds books database please contact us. His novels death of a river guide, the sound of one hand clapping, goulds book of fish, the unknown terrorist, wanting and the narrow road to the deep north have received numerous honours and are published in 42 countries. Goulds book of fish is a book of marvels, beautifully written and appropriately beautifully. I get seduced by the language, the plotline, the structure of the book. Published in hardcover to outstanding acclaim on both sides of the atlantic, and winner of the prestigious commonwealth writers prize, goulds book of fish is a marvelously imagined epic of nineteenthcentury australia a world of convicts and colonists, thieves and catamites, whose bloody history is recorded in a very unusual taxonomy of fish. In 1828, a convicted forger is exiled to van diemans island, i. Goulds book of fish is a book of marvels, beautifully written and appropriately beautifully produced, so that the physical artifact actually strengthens and reinforces the tale. A local, familyrun bookshop, goulds is a member of the australian booksellers association aba.
My wonder upon discovering the book of fish remains with me yet, luminous as the phosphorescent marbling that seized my eyes that strange morning. William buelow goulds sketchbook of fishes libraries tasmania. There are many others, as well as authors who call faulkner a key influence. This book by colin johnson, who publishes under the name of. Richard flanagans third novel has divided opinion in the authors native tasmania, between those whose swoon at. Goulds book of fish musings of a literary dilettantes blog. Developing magical realisms irony in goulds book of fish. Goulds book arcade established in sydney in 1967 goulds book arcade is australias largest retailer of used, remaindered, outofprint and rare books under one roof. Goulds book arcade does not share any of your information with any other party. Her latest short story, the crystal beads, published in, won first place in both a national and state competition. Chapter titles the twelve fish the potbellied seahorse.