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Mermaid Singing & Peel Me A Lotus

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( 217 ratings, 22 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
Mermaid Singing and Peel Me a Lotus are evocative first-hand accounts of Charmian Clift's time on the Greek islands. The books offer a vivid exploration of island life, capturing both the charm and challenges of living in quieter, sun-drenched settings. Through Clift's insightful narrative, readers experience her deep connection with the locals and the enchanting mood of the islands, all portrayed with lyrical beauty.
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Format: Paperback / softback
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

You might enjoy this book if you're fascinated by personal journeys intertwined with rich cultural explorations. The author captures the essence of life on a Greek island with beautifully vivid descriptions and poignant reflections, offering a unique glimpse into post-war Greece that balances adventure with heartfelt introspection.

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these two classic travel works by Charmian Clift describing the life she and her Australian family led in Greece in the 1950's are re-released here in one volume to coincide with the publication of Nadia Wheatley's landmark biography of Charmian.

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description
These two classic travel works by Charmian Clift describing the bohemian life that she and her husband, writer George Johnston, and their family, led in Greece in the 1950s are re-released here in one beautiful new edition.

Today we bought the house by the well.

In 1951, the writer Charmian Clift and her husband, the novelist George Johnston, left Australia and went first to London, before decamping for Greece in 1954, along with their two young children. Settling first on the tiny Greek island of Kalymnos, then Hydra, their intent was to live cheaply and focus on their creative writing.

From this period of their lives sprang two of Charmian Clift's best known and most loved books, the memoirs Mermaid Singing and Peel Me a Lotus. These works paint an evocative picture of the sundrenched rhythms and routines of traditional island life, intertwined with the bohemian life of the family, their friends, and visitors to the island.

Wry, lyrical, and blazing with life, Charmian Clift was a glorious writer β€” and these two memoirs of life on a Greek island are powerfully human and vividly alive.

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

Mermaid Singing & Peel Me A Lotus by Charmian Clift is often praised for its evocative depiction of life on the Greek islands in the 1950s, capturing the beauty of the landscape and the depth of local culture. Reviewers appreciate Clift's engaging writing style, with its blend of humour and insight, which immerses readers into her personal adventures and observations. The book is noted for its vibrant portrayal of expatriate life and its exploration of themes like personal freedom and cultural contrasts.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780732268862

Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers (Australia) Pty Ltd

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 14 December 2020

Country: Australia

Imprint: Fourth Estate

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 31.0mm

Width: 138.0mm

Height: 205.0mm

Weight: 390g

Pages: 432

About the Author

Charmian Clift was born in Kiama, New South Wales, in 1923. She became a journalist on the Melbourne Argus newspaper after the war, and in 1947 married novelist and journalist George Johnston. Early in their marriage they collaborated on three novels, then, in 1954, they took their family to live in the Greek Islands. There, Clift wrote these accounts of her life and two novels, Honour’s Mimic and Walk to the Paradise Gardens. On returning to Australia in 1964, Clift began writing a weekly newspaper column which quickly gained a wide and devoted readership. She died in 1969.

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