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Illywhacker

By Peter Carey
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3.78 goodreads logo

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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
Illywhacker by Peter Carey is an inventive and rich tale set in Australia, centring on the life of an engaging and unreliable storyteller named Herbert Badgery. The novel explores the complexities and intrigues of Australian identity through Herbert's eclectic adventures and encounters with various colourful characters. The story delves into themes of deception, history, and the power of storytelling, all interwoven with a sense of humour and depth.
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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 intrigued by imaginative storytelling and whimsical adventures. It combines vibrant characters with a unique narrative voice, offering a blend of history and magical realism that explores themes of identity and deception in a captivating style.

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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

Peter Carey's brilliant, hilarious, Booker Prize-shortlisted Illywhacker is the novel that brought him to international attention.

Herbert Badgery is a vagabond and charlatan, aviator and car salesman, seducer and patriarch. He might very well be the embodiment of Australia's national character, especially in its fondness for tall stories and questionable history.

As this charming scoundrel traverses the continent and a century's worth of outlandish encountersβ€”not least with a genteel dowager fending off madness with an electric belt, and a ravishing young girl with a dangerous fondness for rooftop trystsβ€”one truth emerges. Herbert Badgery may in fact be the king of all con men.

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?

Illywhacker by Peter Carey is praised for its vibrant storytelling and rich character development. Many reviews highlight Carey's imaginative narrative style and the book's exploration of themes like identity and authenticity through the eyes of its charismatic protagonist. The novel's blend of humour, satire, and poignant insight has been appreciated by readers and critics alike.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781760896539

Publisher: Penguin Random House Australia

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 03 March 2020

Country: Australia

Imprint: Penguin Random House Australia

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 66.0mm

Width: 130.0mm

Height: 197.0mm

Weight: 754g

Pages: 832

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About the Author

Peter Carey was born in Bacchus Marsh, Victoria, and now lives in New York. He is the author of fourteen novels (including one for children), two volumes of short stories, and two books on travel. Amongst other prizes, Carey has won the Booker Prize twice (for Oscar and Lucinda and True History of the Kelly Gang), the Commonwealth Writers' Prize twice (for Jack Maggs and True History of the Kelly Gang), and the Miles Franklin Literary Award three times (for Bliss, Oscar and Lucinda and Jack Maggs). He is an officer of the Order of Australia and a Fellow of both the Royal Society of Literature and the American Academy of Arts and Letters.

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