Extract: Nation, Memory, Myth by Steve Vizard
Posted on 11 Jun 2025
How does myth generate meaning for a nation and its citizens? How does a national myth transform into symbolic performances of cultural memory and kinship?
John Essex-Clark was born with soldiering in his blood, but his professional life has not fitted the orthodox mould. His interests range from rugby and cricket to sketching. He is a man of action, impatient with introspection, yet always with him at the battlefront were his thesaurus, book of quotations, complete Shakespeare... He is indeed a maverick.
After 34 years of military service, John and his wife Lilian built an eyrie in a hill-top on the northern New South Wales coast. John writes, gardens, works as a consultant in military and strategic matters, and contributes generously to local community affairs. He is happily entrenched.
Posted on 11 Jun 2025
How does myth generate meaning for a nation and its citizens? How does a national myth transform into symbolic performances of cultural memory and kinship?
Posted on 11 Jun 2025
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Posted on 11 Jun 2025
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Fri 27 June at 12:00PM
Four Seasons Hotel, 199 George Street, Sydney NSW 2000
Join Chris Hammer in conversation with ABC's Fran Kelly to discuss the updated edition of The River.
Thu 26 June at 6:00PM
Readings Carlton, 309 Lygon St, Carlton VIC 3053
Join us to hear Steve Vizard in conversation about Nation, Memory, Myth.
Tue 08 July at 6:00PM
Readings Hawthorn, 687 Glenferrie Rd, Hawthorn VIC 3122
Join us to hear Chris Hammer in conversation about his bestselling classic book, The River.
Thu 10 July at 6:30PM
Burnside Library, 401 Greenhill Road Tusmore, SA 5065
Learn more about author Chris Hammer's prize-winning non-fiction book about the Murray Darling Basin.