By Lisa Lang
Allen and Unwin, 2010
9781742373348
Lisa Lang won the Vogel prize for the manuscript of Utopian Man, a glorious fictionalised account of the life of E.W. Cole, a visionary who is best known today for creating the childhood stalwart Coles Funny Picture Book. In HIS day (1880s Melbourne), Cole had a bookstore that encompassed a full city block, replete with monkeys, a fernery and a tea room. With more than 1 000 000 books and white wicker chairs for reading, this was a unique and before-its-time venture in a Melbourne that was awash with gold dust.
Lang has developed Cole as a person, the reader experiences his fears, worries, manias and family joys and travesties.
Listen to Lisa talk about Cole, her writing life - and the parts she left out of the book.
Hiya Paige-nice to meet you today finally. I have all three Coles Funny Picture books and though a tad on the 'we cant say that these days' ledger-still funny
ReplyDeleteHello Steve,
ReplyDeleteyes - lovely to meet you - You posted your comment an outrageously long time ago - so Hello and Happy New Year. We loved Coles Funny Picture books to death - and thefictionalised account of his life is good. Well written, great story & historically informative...