The Writer at Work

Into this volume C.K. Stead gathers a selection of his essays from the past decade, mixing literary criticism with autobiography. He reviews the work of other writers, meditates on the teaching of literature, revisits some controversies and explores literary history.

Always interesting, the essays travel through time and space – from Janet Frame, to Barry Humphries’ birthday, to Paul Theroux and telling the truth, to Shelley’s Constantia – on a brilliant carpet of scholarship and wit.