Illywhacker by Peter Carey
The novel is a sprawling tale of deception, magic, and family history, narrated by a 139-year-old Australian con artist. He recounts his life's adventures, from snake handling to aircraft manufacturing, while weaving in the stories of his descendants. The narrative is a blend of historical fiction and tall tales, exploring themes of national identity, truth, and the art of storytelling itself. Through the protagonist's unreliable narration, the book challenges the reader to discern fact from fiction, all while painting a vivid picture of Australian society and its transformation over the 20th century.
The 3888th greatest book of all time
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- Published
- 1985
- Nationality
- Australian
- Length
- Long
- Pages
- 600
- Original Language
- English
- Avg User Rating
-
(3.0)
- Alternate Titles
- None
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This book is on the following 2 lists:
- 1000 Novels Everyone Must Read (The Guardian)
- Harold Bloom's The Western Canon (The Western Canon (Book) by Harold Bloom)