Norman Lindsay, an Australian artist of remarkable productivity, popularity, and controversy, occupies a prominent place in the country's creative landscape. His fame is anchored in creations like the cherished children's book "The Magic Pudding" and his adeptly crafted prints, predominantly inspired by Greek and Roman mythology, as well as 19th-century literature and philosophy. This compilation of essays meticulously dissects Lindsay's enduring impact and present standing within Australian art and cultural chronicles. The essayists form a diverse array, encompassing Australia's most distinguished historians, literary scholars, artists, and critics spanning multiple generations. Lindsay's creative output, his presence within Sydney's bohemian intellectual circle, and the indelible mark left by "The Magic Pudding" have collectively imprinted the Australian cultural psyche. This imprint resonates across generations of Australian children who grew up with his imaginative work. Lindsay's life is a tapestry of paradoxes that have further enriched this consciousness: from artistic bohemianism to hints of fascism, avant-garde inclinations coupled with a reverence for the rule of law, the interplay of libertinism and conservatism, as well as simultaneous acts of veneration and denigration.
ISBN 9780645106039. Memo Review/Index Books. pb. 152 pages. 10.7 x 17.5 cm.