The End of the Morning

Reviewed By  Grasshopper2       July 4, 2024

 

Author  Charmian Clift edited Nadia Wheatley

Distributor:     
ISBN:                 9781742238166
Publisher:         UNSW Press
Release Date:   April 2024  

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What a wonderful privilege it was to read, not only the part story that Charmian Clift had written, but to also learn of her life. The End of the Morning is edited by Nadia Wheatley and contains the unfinished story, “The End of the Morning,” as well as essays and published columns selected by Nadia. This is a glorious recognition of her talent.

The autobiographical novel written by Charmian is beautiful. Her writing is descriptive, “the sea itself- so vast, so silky dark, so brilliantly glittering….” leaving the reader with clear visual images. Her characters are flawed, real and so believable you will feel sure you have met them. In the short span of time she tells us about her family, we get a clear picture of a young girl and her passionate desire to be the focus of her parents.

Sadly, Charmian died before she completed this tale she had been working on; Nadia takes over, telling us of the life of this wonderfully talented woman who placed her career on hold while her husband wrote his story, “My brother Jack.” Having three children, little money and a husband who became ill, there was little choice.

Nadia completes the book by including stories from the writing that Charmian published in the Sydney Morning Herald and the Melbourne Herald. When these are read, a picture emerges of Charmian. Her talent, insightfulness, and stunning prose make us wish she had lived longer and written more. This book is an amazing compilation of story, autobiography, and essays. What a superb talent lost!

Charmian Clift (1923-1969) was an Australian author and collaborator of George Johnson, author of the iconic novel My Brother Jack.