Description

The Playmaker is a novel based in Australia written by the Australian author Thomas Keneally. In 1789 in Sydney Cove, the remotest penal colony of the British Empire, a group of convicts and one of their captors unite to stage a play. Governor Arthur Phillip presides over the colony, where 1st Lt. Ralph Clark, sadistic Major Robert Ross (Royal Marines officer), and Midshipman Harry Brewer have a curious effect on the goings-on of the new Australian colony. As felons, perjurers, thieves, and whores rehearse, their playmaker, Ralph Clark, is derided by authority. He also becomes strangely seduced. For the play's power is mirrored in the rich, varied life of this primitive land, and, not least, in the convict and actress Mary Brenham. The play that they plan to stage is The Recruiting Officer, a 1706 play by the Irish writer George Farquhar, which follows the social and sexual exploits of two officers, the womanising Plume and the cowardly Brazen, in the town of Shrewsbury to recruit soldiers. Many arguments are made over naturalism vs. presentationalism in acting style, and in the merits of the theatre itself.

Synopsis

Title: The Playmaker
Author/Publisher: Thomas Keneally, Hodder & Stoughton General Division
Publication Year: 1987
Format: 310-page Hardcover

Thomas Keneally's 1987 historical novel, *The Playmaker*, transports readers to the nascent British penal colony at Sydney Cove in 1789. This acclaimed work reimagines a pivotal and often harsh period of Australian history, focusing on an extraordinary cultural endeavour amidst the struggles of early settlement.

Against the backdrop of the remotest outpost of the British Empire, the narrative centres on the ambitious undertaking of staging a theatrical production. This unique collaboration sees a group of convicts, alongside elements of their custodians, uniting to bring drama to the desolate shores of New South Wales, an act of cultural assertion and survival in challenging circumstances, with historical figures such as Governor Arthur Phillip presiding over the unfolding events.

• Convicts on Stage: The novel explores the fascinating premise of a theatre production enacted by the colony's inhabitants, examining the complex social dynamics and surprising alliances formed between the incarcerated and their overseers through the shared pursuit of art.
• Sydney Cove, 1789: Keneally vividly recreates the atmosphere of the First Fleet's arrival and the challenging early years of Australia's founding. The narrative provides insight into daily life, power struggles, and the human spirit within a penal settlement.
• Historical Figures: Key historical figures, including Governor Arthur Phillip, 1st Lt. Ralph Clark, Major Robert Ross, and Midshipman Harry Brewer, are woven into the fictionalised account, offering a nuanced perspective on their roles and personal struggles within the nascent colony.

As a first edition of a significant historical novel by the esteemed Australian author Thomas Keneally, *The Playmaker* holds considerable appeal for collectors of Australian literature and those with an interest in colonial history. Its exploration of identity, power, and the redemptive nature of art makes it a compelling and enduring work.

Condition

This item has been professionally inspected and is in Very Good condition. Please refer to the photographs for detailed visual assessment.

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