Miles Franklin Undercover: The little-known years when she created her own brilliant career

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Kerrie Davies

Miles Franklin Undercover

The little-known years when she created her own brilliant career

Kerrie Davies

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English

Allen & Unwin
01 March 2025

Biography: literary; Australasian & Pacific history; Biography - Australian

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'There is a theory that any woman can be rescued from the shoals of failure and despair by finding some man to ask her in marriage, but before I could be happy in love I should at least need to realise myself.'

She dazzled Australia with her rebellious novel My Brilliant Career, inspiring generations of young women chafing under conventional expectations. Only 21, Miles Franklin was lauded as the Bronte of the bush, and feted by the rich and influential.

But fame can be deceptive. In reality, the book earned her a pittance. The family farm was sold, her new novels were rejected, and she was broke. Just two years after her debut, Miles disappeared.

In this real-life sequel to My Brilliant Career, author Kerrie Davies uncovers a little-known period in Miles' life, from the servant's quarters of Sydney and Melbourne's wealthy houses to volatile Chicago, in the turbulent years after her early success. Davies draws on a never-before-published manuscript and diary extracts from Miles' year undercover as a servant, intimate correspondence with poet Banjo Paterson, and archival sources from

Australia and Chicago.

Miles Franklin Undercover is a powerful story of a young woman's enduring resilience, and her determination to always be her own heroine.

'A fascinating page turner.' - Gillian Armstrong AM

'I now feel I know Miles intimately' - Jane Caro AM

'A triumph of enthralling storytelling.' - Sue Williams

'Evocative and richly drawn, this sparkling book shows us a side to the great literary heroine that is darker and even more interesting than many Australians know.' - Jacqueline Maley

'A captivating read - Miles comes alive.' - Brigitta Olubas

By: Kerrie Davies
Imprint: Allen & Unwin
Country of Publication: Australia
Dimensions: Height: 234mm, Width: 153mm,
Weight: 446g
ISBN: 9781761470936
ISBN 10: 1761470930
Pages: 384
Publication Date: 01 March 2025
Audience: General/trade , ELT Advanced
Format: Paperback
Publisher's Status: Active

Prologue Part 1: Miles Part 2: Sarah Part 3: Stella Part 4: The survivor Author's note Notes

Kerrie Davies is the author of A Wife's Heart, that created national discussion about the iconic poet Henry Lawson and his marriage. She has appeared at the Sydney and Brisbane Writers Festivals, and the National Folk festival, Canberra. A former journalist for Vogue and the Sunday Telegraph, Kerrie is Senior Lecturer at the School of the Arts & Media, UNSW Sydney, a 2024 Visiting Fellow at the State Library of New South Wales, and writes for the Conversation.