Swords and Crowns and Rings

Swords and Crowns and Rings (1977) is a Miles Franklin Award-winning novel by Australian author Ruth Park.[1]

Swords and Crowns and Rings
First edition
AuthorRuth Park
LanguageEnglish
GenreNovel
PublisherNelson, Australia
Publication date
1977
Publication placeAustralia
Media typePrint (Hardback & Paperback)
Pages435
ISBN0-17-005204-4
OCLC4498430
823
LC ClassPZ3.P2206 Sw PR9639.3.P37
Preceded byOne-a-Pecker, Two-a-Pecker 
Followed byMissus 

Synopsis

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It mainly follows the stories of two children in a town in rural New South Wales across three decades at the start of the 20th century.

The primary protagonist, Jackie Hanna, is born a "dwarf" in 1907 to Walter and Peggy Hanna, two grocers in Kingsland, NSW. Jackie's father Walter dies during his childhood, and his mother remarries to a veteran of the Boer War. The secondary protagonist, Dorothy "Cushie" Moy, is born to a wealthy family; her father is a banker and her mother the daughter of a newspaper tycoon. In their youth, the two protagonists fall in love, and much of the book arcs around the circumstances and misfortunes that keep them apart. In particular, a substantial portion of the book focuses on Jackie's experiences as a migrant worker through the Great Depression in Australia, including interactions with New South Wales Premier Jack Lang.

The book is divided into six chapters: 1. Jackie Hanna, Cushie Moy 1907–1918 2. Jackie Hanna 1924 3. Cushie Moy 1924–1925 4. Jackie Hanna 1924–1929 5. Jackie Hanna 1931 6. Jackie Hanna, Cushie Moy 1931–1932

Critical reception

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Hope Hewitt in The Canberra Times was not overly impressed: "The symbols tinkle cornily over every page, not just swords and crowns and rings, but dwarfs and clocks and gold and many more, all familiar. The language is heavy with adjectives and cliches, and at no point does a distinctive voice emerge from this syruped version of Sydney in the bad old days."[2]

Awards

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References

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  1. ^ "Austlit - Swords and Crowns and Rings by Ruth Park". Austlit. Retrieved 13 July 2023.
  2. ^ ""Paths of escape - and escapism"". The Canberra Times, 4 March 1978, p12. Retrieved 13 July 2023.
  3. ^ ""In Brief"". The Canberra Times, 27 April 1978, p3. Retrieved 13 July 2023.
  4. ^ "Austlit - Swords and Crowns and Rings - Awards". Austlit. Retrieved 13 July 2023.

See also

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