My Brother Jack is a classic Australian novel by writer

Writer

A writer is a person who produces literature, such as novels, short stories, plays, screenplays, poetry, or other literary art. Skilled writers are able to use language to portray ideas and images....

 George Johnston

George Johnston (novelist)

George Johnston OBE was an Australian journalist, war correspondent and novelist, best known for My Brother Jack. His second wife and literary collaborator was Charmian Clift.-Life:...

. It is part of a trilogy centring on the character of David Meredith. The other books in the trilogy are Clean Straw for Nothing

Clean Straw for Nothing

Clean Straw for Nothing is a Miles Franklin Award winning novel by Australian author George Johnston. This novel is a sequel to My Brother Jack....

 and A Cartload of Clay.

Its text is commonly studied for many English Literature subjects in Australia.

Plot introduction

This semi-autobiographical novel follows the narrator, David Meredith, through his childhood and adolescence in interwar Melbourne through to adulthood and his journalism career during World War II

World War II

World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...

. The novel constantly contrasts him with his older and more confident brother, Jack.

My Brother Jack chronicles the life of an average stereotypical bloke in Australian society.

Film, TV or theatrical adaptations

It was serialised for ABC

Australian Broadcasting Corporation

The Australian Broadcasting Corporation, commonly referred to as "the ABC" , is Australia's national public broadcaster...

 in 1965 by Charmian Clift

Charmian Clift

Charmian Clift was an Australian writer and essayist during the mid 20th century. She was the second wife and literary collaborator of George Johnston.-Biography:...

, who was also Johnston's wife.

It was adapted again in 2001 by John Alsop and Sue Smith. The cast included William McInnes

William McInnes

William McInnes is an Australian film and television actor and writer.-Television:After a recurring role on A Country Practice in 1990, McInnes appeared in series such as Bligh, Ocean Girl, and Snowy before making his name as Senior Constable Nick Schultz on Blue Heelers in 1994...

, Angie Milliken

Angie Milliken

-Career:Milliken first became noticed when she starred in the 1991 made-for-TV movie Act of Necessity for which she was nominated for an Australian Film Institute Award....

, Claudia Karvan

Claudia Karvan

Claudia Karvan is an Australian actress popular for her roles in the television series The Secret Life of Us and Love My Way. She is also a producer and writer on Love My Way. She currently stars in the drama series Spirited...

 and Jack Thompson

Jack Thompson (actor)

Jack Thompson, AM is an Australian actor and one of the major figures of Australian cinema. He was educated at University of Queensland, before embarking on his acting career. In 2002, he was made an honorary member of the Australian Cinematographers Society...

, with Simon Lyndon

Simon Lyndon

Simon Lyndon Simon Lyndon Simon Lyndon (born February 1971, in London is an Australian actor who grew up in Fremantle, Western Australia. He is a WAAPA graduate. He played Jimmy Loughlin in Chopper with Eric Bana, for which he won an AFI award for Best Supporting Actor and a Film Critics Circle...

, Matt Day

Matt Day

Matthew "Matt" Day is an Australian actor best known for his film and television roles.-Early life and career:Matt Day was born in Melbourne in 1971...

 as the brothers and Ross Ward from Ballarat.