Blueback (novel)

Blueback
	First edition (publ. Pan Macmillan)
Author	Tim Winton
Publication date	March 1, 1998
ISBN	978-0-684-84565-4

Blueback is a short novel by the Australian author Tim Winton. First published in 1997, it has since been translated into Italian, Dutch and Japanese.^[1]

Background

Winton explained,

I don't know whether books like Blueback make a difference, but in an innocent way, it's discussing these things - we have been taking from the sea and the land for so long, it's time for us to give something back. "I feel very specifically that I benefited from growing up where I did, where so much revolved around the sea - in a way, it was a gift and I owe it something. If the sea is ultimately where we come from, and it seems we did, then it's our source, our ancestral life and we are obliged to nourish it.^[2]

Reception

Reviews

A New York Times review said that "Winton ... convince[s] us of the preciousness of our oceans not through lectures but through his characters' steady wonder."^[3]^{[better source needed]}

Alexa Dretzke reviewed,

We have a boy who loves the sea. It is his boy and part of his family's past. He loves a big, old fish that swims with him and he loves his mother, who taught him the ways of the sea and how to respect Winton's homage to a landscape he hopes will prevail. This is a superb modern Australian classic for every child and adult.^[4]

Awards

1998 Bolinda Audio Book Awards^[5]^{[better source needed]}
1998 Wilderness Society Environment Award^[5]^{[better source needed]}
1999 WAYRBA Hoffman Award for Young Readers^[5]^{[better source needed]}

Adaptations

In 2005, Blueback adapted into a magic mike show by Spare Parts Puppet Theatre, located in Fremantle staged its Premier performance. It then staged performances in Regional Schools in 2008, 2009 and 2010. The play then returned to Fremantle in 2011, and performed at the Mandurah Performing Arts Theatre in 2012, before returning to Fremantle again in 2015. There was also a Regional Schools Tour in 2015.^[6]

In 2021, Blueback was adapted into an Australian feature film written and directed by Robert Connolly, was released in Australia on 1 January 2023. It stars Mia Wasikowska, Radha Mitchell, Erik Thomson, Eddie Baroo and Eric Bana.^[7]

References

^ "Blueback". National Library of Australia. Retrieved 3 February 2017.
^ Waldren, Murray (1997). "Tim Winton: Into the Blue (first published in The Weekend Australian)". Library Liaisons.
^ "Blueback by Tim Winton". Penguin. Retrieved 3 February 2017.
^ "Blueback by Tim Winton 26 April 2016". Readings. Retrieved 3 February 2017.
^ ^a ^b ^c "Tim Winton Author Bio". Booktopia. Retrieved 3 February 2017.
^ "Blueback". Spare Parts Puppet Theatre. Retrieved 3 February 2017.
^ Grater, Tom (15 February 2021). "Mia Wasikowska, Radha Mitchell & Eric Bana Starring In Family Pic 'Blueback'". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 15 February 2021.

[1] "Blueback". National Library of Australia. Retrieved 3 February 2017.

[2] Waldren, Murray (1997). "Tim Winton: Into the Blue (first published in The Weekend Australian)". Library Liaisons.

[:1-3] "Blueback by Tim Winton". Penguin. Retrieved 3 February 2017.

[4] "Blueback by Tim Winton 26 April 2016". Readings. Retrieved 3 February 2017.

[:0-5] "Tim Winton Author Bio". Booktopia. Retrieved 3 February 2017.

[6] "Blueback". Spare Parts Puppet Theatre. Retrieved 3 February 2017.

[Deadline-7] Grater, Tom (15 February 2021). "Mia Wasikowska, Radha Mitchell & Eric Bana Starring In Family Pic 'Blueback'". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 15 February 2021.

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v t e Tim Winton
Novels	An Open Swimmer (1982) Shallows (1984) That Eye, The Sky (1986) In the Winter Dark (1988) Cloudstreet (1991) The Riders (1994) Blueback (1998) Dirt Music (2001) Breath (2008) Lockie Leonard (1990-1997) Eyrie (2013)
Short stories	Scission (1985) Minimum of Two (1987) Blood and Water (1993) The Turning (2005)