The Eye of the Storm
Encyclopedia
The Eye of the Storm is the ninth published novel by the Australian novelist and 1973 Nobel Prize-winner
, Patrick White
. It tells the story of Elizabeth Hunter, the powerful matriarch of her family, who still maintains a destructive iron grip on those who come to farewell her in her final moments upon her deathbed.
It is regarded as one of White's best novels, largely owing to the reputation it received from the Swedish Academy
when they specifically named it as the book that confirmed White's designation as a Literature Laureate.
as Elizabeth Hunter and Geoffrey Rush
and Judy Davis
as Elizabeth's children Basil and Dorothy was released in September 2011.
Nobel Prize in Literature
Since 1901, the Nobel Prize in Literature has been awarded annually to an author from any country who has, in the words from the will of Alfred Nobel, produced "in the field of literature the most outstanding work in an ideal direction"...
, Patrick White
Patrick White
Patrick Victor Martindale White , an Australian author, is widely regarded as an important English-language novelist of the 20th century. From 1935 until his death, he published 12 novels, two short-story collections and eight plays.White's fiction employs humour, florid prose, shifting narrative...
. It tells the story of Elizabeth Hunter, the powerful matriarch of her family, who still maintains a destructive iron grip on those who come to farewell her in her final moments upon her deathbed.
It is regarded as one of White's best novels, largely owing to the reputation it received from the Swedish Academy
Swedish Academy
The Swedish Academy , founded in 1786 by King Gustav III, is one of the Royal Academies of Sweden.-History:The Swedish Academy was founded in 1786 by King Gustav III. Modelled after the Académie française, it has 18 members. The motto of the Academy is "Talent and Taste"...
when they specifically named it as the book that confirmed White's designation as a Literature Laureate.
Film adaptation
A film adaptation directed by Fred Schepisi and starring Charlotte RamplingCharlotte Rampling
Charlotte Rampling, OBE is an English actress. Her career spans four decades in English-language as well as French and Italian cinema.- Early life :...
as Elizabeth Hunter and Geoffrey Rush
Geoffrey Rush
Geoffrey Roy Rush is an Australian actor and film producer. He is one of the few people who has won the "Triple Crown of Acting": an Academy Award, a Tony Award and an Emmy Award. He has won one Academy Award for acting , three British Academy Film Awards , two Golden Globe Awards and four Screen...
and Judy Davis
Judy Davis
Judy Davis is an Australian actress best known for her roles in Husbands and Wives, Barton Fink, A Passage to India and in the TV miniseries Life with Judy Garland: Me and My Shadows....
as Elizabeth's children Basil and Dorothy was released in September 2011.
External links
- Excerpts from the novel at the ABC's "Why Bother With Patrick White?" archive.
- Synopsis and interpretation by Alan Lawson at the ABC's "Why Bother With Patrick White?" archive.