C J Dennis

[Stephen Whiteside]

Neville, I don't think a better knowledge of Dennis' times would make the book any easier to understand. It was not a big seller at the time he wrote it, and is today largely forgotten. It is a tough work, though it most definitely has its lighter moments.

In many ways, it is quite a black work and, as such, is an interesting counterpoint to the eternal optimism of The Sentimental Bloke. The only character in the book that Dennis himself seems to have any regard for is Sym, the son of Joi (apart from Joi himself, but he gets killed off fairly early), and at the very end of the book, even Sym is denounced. "Last man standing" is the little red dog. It is a book in which Dennis expresses his contempt and loathing for the entire human race - a projection of his own self-loathing, I suppose you would have to say.

Have you ever read "A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court" by Mark Twain? Both books serve a similar function for their authors, I think. Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn are essentially optimistic pieces, but in Connecticut Yankee thousands of people are killed, and the book ends with piles of dead bodies. Very cathartic, I would imagine.

'Glugs' is not as graphic as that, but the implications are pretty much the same. It could be said that the Glugs represent the most unattractive aspects of Humanity, at least as Dennis sees them.

[Neville Briggs]

Stephen, I've read Huck Finn & Tom Sawyer. Haven't read Connecticut Yankee, I'll look that up at the library.


That's interesting what you say about Dennis, I'll try again on the Glugs of Gosh with that in mind.

[Terry]

'The Old Master' is my favourite,

Terry

[Hully]

You know I never took it as a 'dark' work - but perhaps that's a matter of my perspective??

I think it is a very human work, but also very Australian - and while I am sure it relates to the socio-political scene of the day, I don't think it loses anything in a modern context - to me it covers politics, trade, class, bureaucracy, tall poppies and social conventions - as well as something very observant and absurd about human nature and the nature of change.....I first read it about 10 years ago and was struck by the current relevance, and I think it is still just as relevant....

anyway - I won't change my vote - I reckon its one the greats of Australian literature.

Neville I have a beautiful little hard-cover version - a wonderful 'object' regardless of the words - complete illustrations by Hal Gye - its a beautiful thing...

h

[Stephen Whiteside]

Yes, I agree, Hully.

Perhaps I am wrong. I first read it many years ago, and thought it was just wonderful. I re-read it last year, and felt I saw things I hadn't noticed the first time around - especially the ending. Perhaps 'dark' is too strong a word, but it certainly (at least to my way of thinking) is nowhere near as positive and optimistic - and uncritical of humanity - as most of his other works.

[Zondrae]

and..

I too have the same edition as Hully. I have read it a few times. I like it. I don't find dark. In fact I had it with me last time I went to hospital and several of the nurses read bits of it and all gave favourable comment. (I wonder if they would have picked up a volume of Shakespeare and thumbed through it as freely?)
I recall, as a very young child, hearing a reference to 'Pig Iron Bob'. I can see the similarity of the situation.

Yes, 'Glugs' is the work of a very impressive mind. ........There are just not enough hours in the day............

[Vic Jefferies]

A friend of mine recently showed me a first edition copy of Ginger Mick which contained a hand written note which said, " In a letter to CJ Dennis Rudyard Kipling said that his wife was jealous of Doreen."

[Glenny Palmer]

Whaaaaa!! I haven't got any copy of ''The Glugs''....whaaaa!
I was totally blessed to watch John Derum perform this masterpiece at The Palma Rosa (organised by our little Trishy Anderson.) I think it is an absolutely timeless piece, as for me, it was more about human nature than anything else. Very very clever indeed.

Poor old Raymond (Essery) was seated beside me...& our darling Billy Hay....Raymond sat very quietly for a while & then looked at me & said...''Whaaat the blooody hell is this about???'' Lol.

[Hully]

Hi Glenny - I used to have an 'audiobook' of John Derrum performing 'Glugs' which was on high rotation when I was driving tractors - I actually knew most of it at that time....

brief story....I found myself in a police interrogation room at one point in my life (sorry, no details, but nothing too serious I assure you) with the 2 officers, either side of the table, me at one end, and at the other end a machine with video camera and triplicate audio cassettes - it was an 'interview' - anyway, it was all pretty straight forward - at one point the officers left the room, clicking off the audio cassette - but they left the video running....I lasted about 2 minutes with this camera staring at me before I theatrically began "Come said the devil, he said to me, his swart face all agrin - today ere ever the clock strikes three shall you sin your darling sin...." - recited the entire 2nd rhyme of Sym as though my life depended on it....

Police came back into the room and were cracking up ! !....video was still running in the outer room....(one of the interviewing officers was my Big Sisters ex boyfriend - its a small town you know)....I still get comments about that solo performance ! !

H

PS - charges got thrown out of court - I'm not as bad as you think...

[Glenny Palmer]

G'daay Hully! What a cracker of a story!! I love it, but....mmm...I dunno about camping with you out the back of Bourke now though...mmm.