Capricornia (novel)
| Author | Xavier Herbert |
|---|---|
| Genre | Fiction |
| Publisher | Angus & Robertson |
|
Publication date
|
1938 |
| Pages | 510 |
| ISBN | |
| OCLC | 220213222 |
| Preceded by | – |
| Followed by | Seven Emus |
Capricornia (1938) is the debut novel by Xavier Herbert.
Like his later work considered by many a masterpiece, the Miles Franklin Award-winning Poor Fellow My Country, it provides a fictional account of life in 'Capricornia', a place clearly modelled specifically on Australia's Northern Territory, and to a lesser degree on tropical Australia in general, (i.e. anywhere north of the Tropic of Capricorn) in the early twentieth century. It was written in London between 1930 and 1932.
Highly influenced by the Jindyworobak Movement, it also describes the inter-racial relationships and abuses of the period.
It was written before Herbert was acting Protector of the Aborigines in Darwin.
The book opens,
The story, like other works by Herbert, is immense and rambling, following with irony the fortunes and otherwise, of a range of Outback Characters, over a span of generations. Through their story is reflected a story of Australia, concerning the clash of personalities and societies that provide the substance on which today's society is founded. Characters of particular interest include the unfortunate underdogs (many granted fewer rights in the officially White pre-1970s Australia) of whom Xavier is one of the few outstanding champions who demonstrates any real insight and compassion—though not by any favour, but simply by the fact that he places all on an equal standing. Perhaps the most notable characters in his story are those followed from birth. For example, Norman ("Nawnim", or "no-name"):
And Constance:
Herbert's frank historical settings give authenticity to much that would otherwise be forgotten, for instance:
In not dodging the unattractive, and actively seeking the non-conformist characters, he has preserved for modern readers a view which seems not unlike that of modern writers, where so much of early-to-mid 20th century history of Australia is bland, apoliticised, and ignores the vast majority of the truth, following the politic of the White Australia myth. Here, a paragraph about the return of a soldier following World War I, relating his stories to an older advocate of the war who stayed at home.
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