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Absolutely Revolting
Fiction
by Gillian Dooley •
December 2002-January 2003, no. 247

Matthew Flinders’ Cat by Bryce Courtenay

Viking, 611pp, hb

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Halfway through Matthew Flinders’ Cat, the protagonist admits that, when writing, he finds it ‘almost impossible to leave out what others might think of as superfluous detail. It was, he knew, self-indulgence.’ Is this a moment of self-directed irony on Bryce Courtenay’s part, or a case of the pot calling the kettle black? This novel brims with ‘superfluous detail’, and there is little attempt to curb the flow of information.

 


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Matthew Flinders’ Cat by Bryce Courtenay

Viking, 611pp, hb

Buy this book

ABR receives a commission on items purchased through this link. All ABR reviews are fully independent.

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