“Patrick White – Icons of Australianness”

Abstract

. This article discusses Patrick White's novel with respect to his nuanced representation of Australian experience. As one deeply rooted in the tradition of literature, White has examined a number of formal conventions. He moved from a historical revisionism through satire to self-reflection about his own process of creating fiction. White's works are characterized by poetic excessiveness, which he uses to critique Australian society and the position of the individual artist. The essay dealing with Patrick White's Australianness will explore the concept of regionalism in literature and how he is bound to both English and Australia literatures. “Voss” stands out as an important work; it provides a deep, powerful recreation of Australia, examining the concept of individual isolation and the complexity of perceived reality. “A Fringe of Leaves,” (1986) is a travelogue that takes place during Queen Victoria's time period. It draws comparisons between Victorian England and its antipodean counterpart. By virtue of its contemporary perspective, "A Fringe of Leaves" enables us to examine social structures in addition to contrast different world views.        The time period in which White wrote his works (approximately 70 years) creates problems when trying to classify and align him with the Australian literary tradition. It was only about the past 70 years that Australia started to claim some degree of notoriety in terms of its literary tradition