Elizabeth Jolley is one of Australia’s most significant and best-loved writers, delighting readers with her acute observation of the world, her wicked humour, her compassion and her honesty. Learning to Dance brings together some of her most poignant short stories, essays and poems, and includes two formerly unpublished pieces. The recurring themes of her life and work are evident here: the complex relationships within families; homesickness and exile; intense love between women; the healing power of the land; the inevitability of loneliness; and the fragile nature of happiness. Together, these writings form something close to an autobiography. Above all, they are a celebration of Elizabeth’s rich life and work. pp. 295 #0820

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