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Trevor Shearston Papers Series English
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Something in the blood [short story collection] (1979)

This series contains drafts, notes, newspaper cuttings, and correspondence. Something in the blood was published by University of Queensland Press (UQP) in 1979. Consisting of fifteen (15) short stories set in Papua New Guinea before its Independence. The short story Drowning was first published in the New Guinea Quarterly, vol. 10, no. 3, 1975-76. Some stories contain short passages in Pidgin. The stories deal with the themes of local customs, attitudes, acts of aggression, missionaries, loneliness, and racism. Includes drafts, cuttings of reviews from journals and magazine, scripts of radio plays adapted from the stories, and related correspondence.

Sticks that kill [novel] (1983)

This series contains drafts, notes, newspaper cuttings, research material and correspondence. Sticks that kill was published by University of Queensland Press in 1983. Initially the novel was preceded by a stage play called Goaribari. This series includes drafts, handwritten notes, research material, cuttings of reviews from journals and magazines, and material removed or deleted from the novel.

The novel is set in British New Guinea and covers a very short period from 1900 to 1903. The story centers around John Rhys, newly arrived to Port Moresby, who works as clerk to the Government Secretary, Mr Ellison. During Rhys's time there the tensions of colonial government (with Britain and Australia both having responsibility for the region during this time) , missionaries, and the local population are revealed.

White lies [novel] (1986)

This series contains drafts, notes, newspaper cuttings, and correspondence. While lies by Trevor Shearston was published by University of Queensland Press in 1986. It is set on a remote mission station in Papua New Guinea in the early 1970's and tells the story of the conflict between the powerful and primitive forces of the local Gewa sorcerer and healer, Sebo, and the missionary, Richard Wakely. Initial drafts of the novel were titled 'Black sheep', which Shearston also used to write a screenplay by the same name.

Correspondence with University of Queensland Press

This series mostly consists of correspondence between Shearston and University of Queensland Press (UQP) during his time with them, from 1977 to 1998. Included are the memorandum of agreements for his first three works of fiction published with UQP.

A straight young back [novel] (2000)

This series contains drafts, notes, photographs and research material. A straight young back is narrated in the first person by David Apps, a cadet government officer who arrives in the Territory of Papua and New Guinea in 1963. Apps works for Hal Franklin, a District Commissioner. As the country moves towards self-government and independence, Apps is slowly corrupted by the power of ruling. Based on true story of the assassination in August 1971 of Jack Emanuel, District Commissioner. Emanuel was murdered deep in the the forest on a Rabaul plantation. The working titles for the novel were 'The old magic touch' and the 'Walk novel'.

Tinder [novel] (2002)

This series contains drafts, notes, newspaper cuttings, research material and correspondence. Tinder [novel], published by Scribner in 2002, had several working titles: 'The fire lovers', 'Fire in the hand', and 'Zippo : a cautionary tale'. Set in Katoomba and narrated by the central character, Graham, it follows his sexual awakening.

Dead birds [novel] (2007)

This series contains drafts, notes, research material, and correspondence. Dead birds, published by ABC Books in 2007, is set in the early days of exploration around Papua New Guinea. It is based on the 1877 journal of Italian naturalist, collector and explorer Luigi d'Albertis and his crew as they travel by boat up the Fly River in the steam launch 'Neva' collecting birds of paradise, ethnographic artifacts and undiscovered specimens. A New Guinean tribesman is killed by Albertis' crew and his head preserved in a specimen bottle. The story, narrated by the head in a jar, is a story of race relations. Included in this series are notes, research material, and drafts.

Concertinas [novel] (1988)

This series contains drafts, notes, newspaper cuttings, research material, and correspondence. Concertinas is told from the alternating points of view of the two main characters, Chris Davage and Ian McCall. Both ex-PNG men have fond and lingering memoirs of the excitement of the expatriate experience. The novel examines the relationship between Australia, Papua New Guinea and Indonesia. This series contains drafts, notes, research material, and newspaper cuttings.

Snowdrop [screenplay] - filmed as Envy [motion picture] (1999)

This series contains drafts and notes. The screenplay for Snowdrop, with the working title of 'Little black dress', was not commissioned. Sheartson wrote it and it was taken up by Julie Money and Michael Cook. After disagreements between Shearston and Adelphi Films, the screenplay rights were bought by Julie Money and Michael Cook with Jeff Truman as the final writer of what became the film Envy. This film is also know as The new girlfriend. This series includes drafts of the various working titles, correspondence, and reviews.

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