Writing in Hope and Fear

The book delves into the intense literary debates in postwar Australia, highlighting the clash between radical nationalists and cultural conservatives. It explores the origins of these conflicts through key literary works, influential journals, and the figures involved. Writing is portrayed as a political act reflecting societal hopes and fears, with a focus on both politically engaged authors and those perceived as apolitical. The evolution of journalism and the emergence of younger poets are also examined, culminating in the transformative changes of the 1960s and the Whitlam government that liberated literature from previous constraints.