Fuary, Maureen (2000) Tales of Torres Strait: the historical novel and localised memories. In: Kleinert , Sylvia, and Neale, Margo, (eds.) Oxford Companion to Aboriginal Art and Culture. Oxford University Press, Melbourne, VIC, pp. 444-447.

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Abstract

In 1933 the prolific Australian author Ion Idriess published Drums of Mer, a novel set in the Torres Strait Islands in the nineteenth century. This popular novel, I would suggest, has had greater impact on Yam Island people than its anthropological cousin, A. C. Haddon's six-volume Reports of the Cambridge Anthropological Expedition to Torres Straits (1901-1935) [see 7.1]' and constitutes an important source of cultural and historical information. It is, however, only one of the many means by which Yam Island people have been able to construct a strong sense of themselves as a unique people, and as members of the Australian nation state.

Item ID:	5254
Item Type:	Book Chapter (Reference)
ISBN:	0195506499
Keywords:	Torres Strait, Ion Idriess, cultural memory, Australian literature
Date Deposited:	15 Sep 2009 04:22
FoR Codes:	20 LANGUAGE, COMMUNICATION AND CULTURE > 2005 Literary Studies > 200502 Australian Literature (excl Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Literature) @ 50% 16 STUDIES IN HUMAN SOCIETY > 1601 Anthropology > 160104 Social and Cultural Anthropology @ 50%
SEO Codes:	97 EXPANDING KNOWLEDGE > 970119 Expanding Knowledge through Studies of the Creative Arts and Writing @ 50% 95 CULTURAL UNDERSTANDING > 9599 Other Cultural Understanding > 959999 Cultural Understanding not elsewhere classified @ 50%
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