Metro Plus
Bangalore
Chennai
Hyderabad
Kirsty's chronicles
|
Children's literature has to be rooted in national culture and history, says Australian writer Kirsty Murray
|
LOOKING INTO A CHILD'S WORLD Kirsty Murray
Australian author of children's books Kirsty Murray grew up on a rich diet of Enid Blyton and C. S. Lewis. Much as she admires these writers, she thinks `The Famous Five' and `The Chronicles of Narnia' aren't enough for Indian and Australian children. They have to be told stories related to their national history and culture. Blyton and Lewis have shaped Kirsty's understanding of what children want between the covers of a book, but it did not help in giving her a sense of cultural identity. However, she had no choice; children's books written with a distinct Australian flavour were scarce. She is giving Australian kids what she missed.
Inspired by history
Most of her books (seven fiction and three non-fiction works in 10 years) meant for children in the 10-15 age group have been inspired by events in Australian history. These books, however, are far from exclusivist and can be enjoyed by young readers from elsewhere. In her books, invariably, she explores what an amalgamation of cultures can produce. In "The Secret Life of Maeve Lee Kwong", the young protagonist is from a family that is half-Chinese and half-Australian. The boy in "Zarconi's Magic Flying Fish" (which is about a circus) is half-Sri Lankan.
Her forthcoming book is based on the misadventures "of a troupe of 28 Australian child performers who came to Madras in 1910. The bunch found employment at a theatre establishment in the city, but 26 cried off due to ill-treatment by the manager." Theatre historian Peter Freund stumbled upon this information and passed it on to Kirsty. As this new book is set in India, she wanted to have firsthand knowledge of the country. Thanks to a grant by the Australian Council and an Asialink programme that gave her a three-month residency at the University of Madras, her wish has been fulfilled.
India's rich cultural heritage provides great scope for story-tellers, says Kirsty. "I can't tell these stories, because the voice belongs to an outsider." Brought up as one among seven children and having been a mother to three children and a step-mother to another three, you expect Kirsty to be extremely familiar with the world of children. But she also looks outside of herself and her family for stories. "I like gossip. It is a great source for stories," she laughs. "To write for children you just have to remember what it meant to be a child."
Simplicity matters
Kirsty believes a story has to be told with compassion and simplicity. " `The Diary of Anne Frank' is an all-time read for these reasons." Writers can't get preachy, even when they are addressing young readers. "When you do so, you step out of the character. And moreover, children want to read about what they are interested in."
Kirsty believes everything, except sex and violence, can be allowed in children's literature. In her opinion, children should not be shielded from the idea of suffering and death. "It is uncommon for a child to grow up without experiencing the loss of a relative. There is always the chance that they will lose a grandparent before they grow up." In "The Secret Life of Maeve Lee Kwong", a young girl comes to terms with the death of her mother. This book and "Zarconi's Magic Flying Fish" are available at Oxford Bookstore.
PRINCE FREDERICK
Printer friendly
page
Send this article to Friends by
E-Mail
Metro Plus
Bangalore
Chennai
Hyderabad
|
