The Drowner Explained

The Drowner (1996) is a novel by Australian author Robert Drewe.^[1]

It was shortlisted for Miles Franklin Award, and won the Vance PalmerPrize for Fiction and New South Wales Premier's Literary Awards — Book of the Year in 1997.

Plot summary

In the late 19th century an Englishman irrigator or "drowner", Will Dance, utilises ancient water-knowledge and modern technology to save a drought-ridden town in Western Australia.

Reviews

• Publishers' Weekly noted: "The desert mining town,..., comes fully to life, invigorated by crisp and moving portrayals of Drewe's minor characters and the monotonous beauty of the hostile (blessedly arid) countryside."^[2]
• Garth Crawford in Woroni stated: "In his mastery of image, and spare but beautiful descriptions of this quest, Drewe reveals his strongest claim to pre-eminence. The Drowner is by an author who enjoys words, weighs and places each without mistaking linguistic asceticism for aestheticism."^[3]

Awards and nominations

• 1997 winner New South Wales Premier's Literary Awards — Christina Stead Prize for Fiction^[4]
• 1997 winner New South Wales Premier's Literary Awards — Book of the Year
• 1997 shortlisted Commonwealth Writer's Prize — South East Asia and South Pacific Region - Best First Novel
• 1997 winner Vance Palmer Prize for Fiction^[5]
• 1998 winner Adelaide Festival Awards for Literature^[6]
• 1998 winner Adelaide Festival Awards for Literature — Premier's Award for the Best Overall Published Work

Notes

A film adaptation of the novel was reportedly arranging funding in 2010,^[7] and in pre-production in 2013. Directed by Jeff Darling from a screenplay by Justin Monjo, Producers Michael Boughen and Matthew Street, Production Company: Ambience Entertainment The Drowner: A story of love, passion, madness, death, and human frailty

Notes and References

1. Web site: The Drowner by Robert Drewe. National Library of Australia. 3 July 2024.
2. http://www.publishersweekly.com/978-0-312-16821-6 "The Drowner, Robert Drewe, author", Publishers' Weekly
3. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article140143007 "The Drowner - Robert Drewe" by Garth Crawford, Woroni, 10 October 1996
4. Web site: "Novelist Drewe carries off a big prize at last" . Sydney Morning Herald, 18 September 1997. 3 July 2024. .
5. Web site: "The Vance Palmer Prize for Fiction 1997-1999" . Austlit. 3 July 2024.
6. Web site: State Library of South Australia. Adelaide Festival Awards for Literature – Past Literary Award Winners. 3 July 2024.
7. Web site: "Film in vogue as investment option" . The West Australian, 20 March 2010. 3 July 2024.