We of the Never Never
Encyclopedia
We of the Never Never is an autobiographical novel
by Jeannie Gunn
. Although published as a novel, it is an account of the author's experiences in 1902 at Elsey Station near Mataranka, Northern Territory
in which she changed the names of people to obscure their identities. She published this book under her married name of Mrs Aeneas Gunn. Over the years newspapers and magazine articles chronicled the fortunes of the Elsey characters; Jeannie outlived all but Bett-Bett.
, some 300 miles (483 km) south of Darwin. On 2 January 1902 the couple sailed for Port Darwin so that he could take up his role as the station's new manager. In Palmerston (Darwin), Mrs Gunn was discouraged from accompanying her husband to the station on the basis that as a woman she would be "out of place" on a station such as the Elsey. However, she travelled south and her book describes the journey and settling in. However on 16 March 1903 Aeneas died of malarial dysentery and Jeannie returned to Melbourne shortly afterwards.
In 1988 the book was referred to as a “minor masterpiece of Australian letters” by Penguin’s
New Literary History of Australia.
in 1982 and shot on location in the Northern Territory
- the setting of the novel.
Autobiographical novel
An autobiographical novel is a form of novel using autofiction techniques, or the merging of autobiographical and fiction elements. The literary technique is distinguished from an autobiography or memoir by the stipulation of being fiction...
by Jeannie Gunn
Jeannie Gunn
Jeannie Gunn OBE was an Australian novelist, teacher and Returned and Services League of Australia volunteer.- Life :...
. Although published as a novel, it is an account of the author's experiences in 1902 at Elsey Station near Mataranka, Northern Territory
Mataranka, Northern Territory
Mataranka is a community of about 400, in the Top End region of Australia's Northern Territory. The town is located about 420 km southeast of the territorial capital, Darwin, and 107 km south of Katherine. At the 2001 census, Mataranka had a population of 461.The town is located near...
in which she changed the names of people to obscure their identities. She published this book under her married name of Mrs Aeneas Gunn. Over the years newspapers and magazine articles chronicled the fortunes of the Elsey characters; Jeannie outlived all but Bett-Bett.
Background
Mrs Gunn was the first white woman to settle in the Mataranka area. Her husband was a partner in Elsey cattle station on the Roper RiverRoper River
The Roper River is one of the largest rivers in the Northern Territory, Australia, extending east for over 500 km to meet the sea in Limmen Bight on the Gulf of Carpentaria. It is navigable for about 145 km, until the tidal limit at Roper Bar, and forms the southern boundary of the region...
, some 300 miles (483 km) south of Darwin. On 2 January 1902 the couple sailed for Port Darwin so that he could take up his role as the station's new manager. In Palmerston (Darwin), Mrs Gunn was discouraged from accompanying her husband to the station on the basis that as a woman she would be "out of place" on a station such as the Elsey. However, she travelled south and her book describes the journey and settling in. However on 16 March 1903 Aeneas died of malarial dysentery and Jeannie returned to Melbourne shortly afterwards.
Publication History
We of the Never Never was translated into German in 1927. By 1945, 320,000 copies of the book had been sold. This novel, together with her other book, was adapted for Australian schools. By 1990 over a million copies of the book had been sold.Significance
The book is regarded as being significant as a precursor of the 1930s landscape writers. Already in 1908 Australia was a significantly urbanised country and the book was seen to provide symbols of things that made Australia different from anywhere else, underwriting an Australian legend of life and achievement in the outback, where "men and a few women still lived heroic lives in rhythm with the gallop of a horse" in "forbidding faraway places".In 1988 the book was referred to as a “minor masterpiece of Australian letters” by Penguin’s
Penguin Books
Penguin Books is a publisher founded in 1935 by Sir Allen Lane and V.K. Krishna Menon. Penguin revolutionised publishing in the 1930s through its high quality, inexpensive paperbacks, sold through Woolworths and other high street stores for sixpence. Penguin's success demonstrated that large...
New Literary History of Australia.
Film
The book was made into a film also called We of the Never NeverWe of the Never Never (film)
We of the Never Never is a 1982 Australian drama film, directed by Igor Auzins, based on the autobiographical novel We of the Never Never by Jeannie Gunn...
in 1982 and shot on location in the Northern Territory
Northern Territory
The Northern Territory is a federal territory of Australia, occupying much of the centre of the mainland continent, as well as the central northern regions...
- the setting of the novel.