Elizabeth Harrower
Elizabeth Harrower
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Full Name and Common Aliases
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Elizabeth Harrower was a British-born Australian novelist, playwright, and short story writer. She is often referred to by her full name, but also commonly known as Liz Harrower.
Birth and Death Dates
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Elizabeth Harrower was born on March 13, 1928, in London, England. Unfortunately, she passed away on April 2, 2020, at the age of 92.
Nationality and Profession(s)
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Harrower held dual British and Australian citizenship throughout her life. As a novelist, playwright, and short story writer, she was primarily associated with the literary world.
Early Life and Background
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Growing up in England during World War II had a profound impact on Harrower's writing and worldview. She developed a keen interest in literature from an early age, which led her to pursue a career as a writer. In 1950, at the age of 22, she migrated to Australia with her husband, where they settled in Sydney.
Major Accomplishments
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Harrower's literary breakthrough came with the publication of her novel _Down in the City_ (1966), which won the Australian Literature Society Gold Medal. Her subsequent novels, including _The Watch Tower_ (1971) and _In Certain Circles_ (1985), cemented her reputation as a prominent figure in Australian literature.
Notable Works or Actions
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Throughout her career, Harrower wrote several acclaimed novels that showcased her unique voice and perspective on human relationships. Her works often explored themes of love, family dynamics, and social class, demonstrating her insight into the complexities of human nature.
Some of her notable works include:
_Down in the City_ (1966)
_The Watch Tower_ (1971)
* _In Certain Circles_ (1985)
Her writing also reflected her experiences as a migrant to Australia and her observations on the social changes occurring during this period.
Impact and Legacy
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Elizabeth Harrower's contributions to Australian literature have left an enduring impact. Her works continue to be widely read and studied, providing valuable insights into the country's history and culture. As a pioneer of Australian women's writing, she paved the way for future generations of female writers.
Her legacy extends beyond her literary achievements, as well. Harrower's experiences as a migrant and her observations on social change offer a unique perspective on the human condition.
Why They Are Widely Quoted or Remembered
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Elizabeth Harrower is remembered for her poignant and thought-provoking works that capture the essence of human relationships. Her ability to convey complex emotions and themes through engaging narratives has made her one of the most celebrated authors in Australian literature.
Her contributions to the literary world have earned her a permanent place as one of Australia's leading writers, and her legacy continues to inspire readers and writers alike.
Overall, Elizabeth Harrower's life and work serve as a testament to the power of literature in reflecting human experiences and shaping cultural understanding.
Quotes by Elizabeth Harrower
The city, to her, meant a few particular blocks – the best blocks – lying together in a neat rectangle, linked by arcades and department stores; three streets one way, cut by four at right angles, bound at the top by gardens, self-enclosed at the bottom and either end. Three or four times a week she walked the streets of these blocks, smelt the coffee, the flowers, the rich expensive leather, the cosmetics.
How unfair to everyone that the knowing of one person, the separation, should so poison and diminish every other association.
I was attracted to the strangeness of his mind as a psychiatrist might have been drawn to an interesting case. he wanted a resident analyst. Neither of us understood.
If we lived forever, there would be time to recover from mistakes of twenty years duration.
You wonder why he cleared out tonight, do you? Do you? I'll tell you why. I can tell you. You don't know, do you? You don't know - do you? No, that's right. But Mr. Shaw does. Mr. Shaw knows. He's out tonight so he can be amongst men. Men. That's why. Yes. That's why. You didn't know that, did you? You're too stupid, to know he's sick in his guts of being in a house full of women. Christ! They're not fit - they're not fit for me to vomit on. That's why. You're just - things.
I can't see the world as a great hospital with us all nursing and pitying each other.
So they had all had more troubles than she. Did that really make them superior? If two men were walking along the street and a brick fell on one, missing the other, did that make the injured one a better person?
You can admire the way someone meets hard circumstances, but you can't admire him because of them.
The city, to her, meant a few particular blocks - the best blocks - lying together in a neat rectangle, linked by arcades and department stores; three streets one way, cut by four at right angles, bound at the top by gardens, self-enclosed at the bottom and either end. Three or four times a week she walked the streets of these blocks, smelt the coffee, the flowers, the rich expensive leather, the cosmetics.
