Despite predictions that globalisation would homogenise cultures, ethnicity continues to split states asunder. Democratic theorists fear that consensus, equality and social capital are retreating before competition, materialism and resentment. The 2004 federal election campaign became a festival of individualism as alternative governments courted voters not with visions of a richer community but with promises of greater disposable household income after health and education costs.
Literature reflects social fragmentation with readers’ worlds splitting into narrow, isolated and specialised publics. Where once a canon of western novels purported to depict and analyse human nature, the postmodern trend is to reproduce narrow experiences. When each unique story is a valid piece of a fractured mosaic, it is a challenge for readers to situate stories within a general discourse about humanity.
The Ambulance Chaser by Richard Beasley
Macmillan, $30 pb, 356 pp
The Naked Husband by Mark D'Arbanville
Bantam, $22.95 pb, 273 pp
Street Furniture by Matt Howard
Wakefield Press, $29.95 pb, 230 pp
ABR receives a commission on items purchased through this link. All ABR reviews are fully independent.
If you are an ABR subscriber, you will need to sign in to post a comment.
If you have forgotten your sign in details, or if you receive an error message when trying to submit your comment, please email your comment (and the name of the article to which it relates) to ABR Comments. We will review your comment and, subject to approval, we will post it under your name.
Please note that all comments must be approved by ABR and comply with our Terms & Conditions.