The Tree of Man

I've read that Patrick White's work was criticized as being un-Australian. I don't think this had much to do with ideology for I could detect no leaning toward any particular political system in this novel about pioneer settlers in the bush. Maybe it was so labeled because we find no intrepid characters who might generate patriotic pride in their conquest of the wilderness. What we do find is very imperfect, commonplace people; for the most part absorbed in living commonplace lives. But even the label, commonplace, does not mean a poorness of thought, feeling, and action. The complexity of these characters with their quirks, talents, dreams, obsessions and confusion are poetically depicted as they go about their humble lives. There is no conventional glamour to the main characters, but there is an intangible, mysterious beauty revealed by the author as he explores the different facets of their being. The people of the novel grapple with the meanings of themselves, others, God, and existence itself. All are motivated in varying degrees by a desire for some kind of revelation or transcendence, though inarticulately conceived. Fortunately the author has supplied the articulateness which lets us glimpse the workings of their minds. We see in the stream-of-consciousness presentation the interplay between outward appearance and inner,subjective,barely conscious intent and desire. Given this impressionistic method of storytelling, you can see it is probably not the kind of book to incite patriotic fervor. It did incite(in me, at any rate) a sense of the depth and mystery of simple lives when they are viewed psychologically and artistically. Even though very imaginative stylistic devices are used in this novel it struck me as also very realistic; the picture of the characters' lives, inner and outer, has a convincing feel of authenticity. The family we read about would be called dysfunctional in our stereotyping society of today. But the dramatization of their sometimes tortured, sometimes joyful lives covers such a spectrum of psychological states that labeling would seem insipid. The latter part of the book enters a time of transition to modern ways. The spirit of the old times is being opposed by the trend toward convenience and conformity. It is evident that the flavor of those old times will not be reproduced once the change is complete. I found the book quite moving, not in a sentimental way; but in the same way feelings are evoked by great art or music. It is satisfying to add my praise for this outstanding book.

Patrick White is one of those rare writers - Well, the only other one that comes to mind is Halldor Laxness - who is able to create great literature out of the seemingly mundane. How he accomplishes this feat is not a simple matter to explain in a review, but it has, in part, to do with what White describes here as the "mysticism of objects, of which some people are initiates." I could say that this is primarily a book about an uneducated fellow in the Australian Outback who clears some land, raises a family and then dies. I would be quite correct, just as correct as I would be in reviewing Laxness' book, Independent People, as a story about sheep. But I would be leaving out, well, thunderbolts like this: "Iron lace hung from dark pubs, and the heavy smells of spilled beer. Dreams broke from windows. And cats lifted the lid off all politeness." P.22 (in my edition). But, more importantly, I would be omitting what perhaps can't be included, the deep sense of wonder imbued in the sinews of the work. It makes all modern novels with blurbs such as "ends by exposing the dark forces at play within the heart of man" and such like ring hollow and trite. All forces of the heart, dark and light, are at play throughout the book, from first page to last, but the reader has to let these forces slowly seep into his or her own heart and mind. They aren't emblazoned on a marquee. They aren't easily accessed. But, for that, they are the more dearly prized once they begin to stir one. It's no great surprise that there are so few reviews here of this quiet, deep work of art. To the average reader, it must come across as ineffably boring, but, for lovers of literature and art, it is moving beyond my ability to convey, moving "with all the appearance of aimlessness, which is the impression that spiritual activity frequently gives." P.397

This is one of the greatest novels ever written. Whites style is always powerful;each word, each paragraph builds vividly in your mind, and within a simple story framework he explores how human ambitions, hopes and dreams are eroded by nature and the eras we live in. All that occurs is that Stan Parker builds his farm,takes a wife,has two children,lives through flood and drought and sees the area in which he lives expand,grow and change. No one but a supreme master craftsman can illuminate such a plot with such powerful and biblical imagry (man in Eden,the brief hopes,the failings and disallussions of human existence,the reuniting with God) So powerful was the writing that, when White refered to a sewing machine on a hill late in the book,the image created in my mind some 400 pages earlier of that scene during the great flood instantly came back. White has that unique capability. And the story rings true for all of us. Stan had his dreams of how things would grow,yet it is things outside our control that thwart these ambitions. Was it his fault Thelma grew up ashamed of her parents and as a prissy shrew? Or that Ray turned out to be a petty hoodlum and ended up being murdered? Something in human nature makes us blame ourselves for other peoples free will. An extraordinary book.Not for those who like something quick and easy,but definately for anyone who loves literature and wants to be wholly absorbed for the duration of a classic book.

I have read two of White's novels: the present work and Voss. The present novel, The Tree of Man, is more complex than Voss, and unlike Voss here the author manages to breath some life into the characters. Patrick White gained fame as the Australian Nobel prize winner in literature, and as a person with a prickly or difficult personality. He was educated at Cambridge but settled and wrote in Australia after World War II. He wrote about a dozen novels and a biography. This is a good novel and it deserves 5 stars. After a dozen pages or so it becomes clear to the reader why White is famous: he has an unusual style and he is a gifted writer. There is no question about his writing ability. We see great writing ability in Voss and that skill is present in The Tree of Man. The story is set in rural farm country in Australia and it follows the life of a young couple through to their deaths at old age. The male protagonist is a bit like the Voss character. In any case, we follow their lives, and the births and lives of their two children, and the lives of a few of their neighbours. The story describes the day to day life of a typical farming couple, along with the problems and challenges of raising children on a small rural farm. The story of the two children are followed into the marriage of the daughter and we follow the troubles of the adult son with the law. I liked the way White handled the four family members. The lives of the four are realistic and interesting; they are human and one can relate to their actions. The discouraging feature of some of White's writing is that the characters seem stiff or cardboard like. His Voss character was not a man to show much emotion or talk. There are any passages that simply describe Voss's activities in that slightly dry book. The present book is much more complicated and White does a much better job with his characters. They are human and give way to temptations. Each character shows a wide range of human emotions. Overall, I thought it was a good book and an interesting read and an interesting book to read if you are interested in the works of Patrick White.

This is a truly extraordinary novel. It demands a certain amount of quiet to be read well. I found myself reading it more like poetry. Because of White's compelling storytelling and writing style, it held my attention despite the fact that very litte happens. Perfect to take on trains, airplanes, or to the beach.