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Signed copy. THERE ARE NO TARIFFS OR CUSTOMS DUTIES ON BOOKS. Scenic Drive by Michael Wilding (1976) is a collection of short storiesâ??more precisely, a â??sequence short storyâ? volume. Author: Michael Wilding Published: 1976, Wild & Woolley in Sydney. Contents: About 20 short stories. The stories explore social, sexual and literary/creative themes. Some are satirical, others more introspectiveWhat happens / What it exploresSince Scenic Drive is not a single continuous novel but a sequence of stories, there isnâ??t one plot but recurring motifs and characters, and a certain tone consistent through the collection. Some of the things it explores:Sexuality and sexual exploration in 1970s Australia: Many stories depict people experimenting, dealing with desires, awkwardness, shame, identity. Wilding does not shy away from erotic or sexually charged material. Literary culture & creativity: Some stories are about writers, magazines, publishers, erotica, and the tension between what people want to express and what society expects or allows. Urban milieu and counterâ??culture: The setting is modern/semiâ??modern Australia; many stories deal with youth, social change, disaffection. Fragmented, exploratory tone: The stories do not necessarily resolve neatly; thereâ??s a sense of exploring liminal states, inner conflicts, the tension between fantasy and reality. â??Fantasies, literature & writers, erotâ??icismâ? appear as recurring subjects. Style & SignificanceWildingâ??s style here is influenced by the â??instant experienceâ? aesthetic: a more immediate, informal, vernacular prose. He mixes satire, eroticism, introspection. Some stories are humorous, some uncomfortable. The collection reflects the changing social mores of the time. The storiesâ?? sequence gives a sense of cohesion: though they're distinct pieces, together they show a thematic arc about identity, creativity, longing, sexual politics, the urban vs. the pastoral (or imagined ideal).
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