Richard Flanagan

I went to Noosa last night and heard Richard Flanagan talk. He wrote The Unknown Terrorist (see my comment on this blog on 14 January 2007). He was very good and spoke of his concern for what had happened to Australia over the past 10 or 12 years. This concern and even anger had motivated him to write this novel which he hoped might make some people question the erosion of independent thought and action that was happening. The intolerance of difference, the blind following of the USA, the exploitation of fear and the corruption of the democratic and judicial process made for a pretty dismal perspective. Fortunately Richard saw hope and was able to point to the demise of other repressive times. He talked about his personal experience of the Thatcher years in the UK. The trouble with the inevitable passing of tough times is the poor bastards that have to suffer before the pendulum swings the other way. At least we can be confident that the worst of the Howard years may be gone and the a more caring and compassionate Australia may soon reappear. Still our travails are as nothing compared to Zimbabwe or the Sudan.
Richard seemed like a good bloke who was generous in his time and conversation with all who waited to have books signed.