Fairyland by Sumner Locke Elliott

Meeting at 7.00pm, Thursday July 10, at the usual place, upstairs at the Shakespeare Hotel, 200 Devonshire Street, Surry Hills, Sydney, we will be discussing Fairyland by Sumner Locke Elliott.

Fairyland is a semi-autobiographical novel ­tracing the coming-of-age of a boy growing up in 1930s Australia. Against the backdrop of a conservative society, he navigates his identity, ambition, and the painful costs of self-invention. With wit, grace, and emotional depth, Elliott explores the illusions we create to survive—and the truths we must face to truly live.

Hard copies available from The Bookshop, 207 Oxford St, Darlinghurst NSW 2010. Some hard copies available through inter-library loan from local libraries. Or send me an email at dalemills (at) cantab.net for a free PDF.

The Shakespeare Hotel is a lively pub in Sydney's inner west, but the semi-private rooms upstairs are conducive to conversation. We will be meeting in the Two Tables room (look for the sign or ask at the bar). Getting to the room requires walking up two small flights of stairs.

The Shakespeare is a 10 min walk from Central train station, almost opposite Surrey Hills Light Rail and local parking is reasonable.