Joyful

Author(s): Robert Hillman

General Fiction

Leon Joyce's years with Tess Wachowicz began with an Emanuel Ungaro taffeta ballgown, part of his collection of women's attire kept in three wardrobes at the South Yarra house. The collection took in Givenchy, Jacques Fath, Schiaparelli, Madae Gres, Helmut Lang, Claire McCardell, Mainbocher, Miyake, Yves Saint Laurent, Chanel, Dior, Travis Banton, Pucci and Antony Price. Leon is a man unburdened by sexual desire. Nonetheless he adores his wife - only partly for the way she wears his exquisite collection of haute couture - and when she becomes ill and dies he is completely shattered. Then he discovers her correspondence with an unknown lover, and his suffering veers towards madness. Leon hunkers down at his neglected country property, Joyful, with the entire local supply of scotch whisky and a bizarre plan to retrieve (posthumously) Tess's devotion. In this extraordinary comedy of grief, Robert Hillman evokes his characters, from the merely unconventional to the frankly deranged, with kindness, grace and wit. Joyful is a gift that will leave the reader deeply moved and filled with delight.

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Product Information

* Author to be interviewed in a major Australian newspaper such as Age or Sydney Morning Herald * Widespread review coverage in Australian and New Zealand newspapers such as the Age, Sydney Morning Herald, Australian and NZ Herald * Widespread review coverage in literary publications such as Australian Book Review, Good Reading and Kill Your Darlings * Widespread review coverage in general interest publications such as The Big Issue and NZ Listener * Author to be interviewed on national and local radio programs such as ABC Radio National's Books and Arts Daily * Limited number of bound proofs available to the trade * Advertisements in literary and current affairs publications such as ABR, Griffith Review and the Monthly, and on their associated websites * Advertisements in bookseller newsletters and catalogues * Promotions and giveaways with targeted subscriber groups, including book lovers such as Reading Room and CAE * Promotions through Text's newsletter, including the chance to win signed copies

'A deft and original portrayal of grief, longing and forgiveness.' -- Gideon Haigh 'A memoir of great sophistication and artfulness, that is also dramatically moving and laugh-aloud funny.' Judges' Citation, National Biography Award for The Boy in the Green Suit

Robert Hillman has written a number of books including his 2004 memoir The Boy in the Green Suit, which won the National Biography Award. He lives in Warburton in Victoria's Yarra Valley.

General Fields

  • : 9781922079916
  • : Text Publishing Company
  • : Text Publishing Company
  • : 0.466
  • : February 2014
  • : Australia
  • : May 2014
  • : books

Special Fields

  • : 352
  • : 823.92
  • : English
  • : 2014
  • : Paperback
  • : Robert Hillman