The Drowner (1996) is a novel by Australian author Robert Drewe.
It was shortlisted for Miles Franklin Award, and won the Vance Palmer Prize 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.""The Drowner, Robert Drewe, author", Publishers' Weekly 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.""The Drowner - Robert Drewe" by Garth Crawford, Woroni, 10 October 1996
Awards and nominations
1997 winner New South Wales Premier's Literary Awards — Christina Stead Prize for Fiction 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 1998 winner Adelaide Festival Awards for Literature 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, and was in pre-production in 2013. It was to be directed by Jeff Darling from a screenplay by Justin Monjo, and produced by Michael Boughen and Matthew Street and production company Ambience Entertainment.
References