Sybylla is the first-person narrator of Franklin’s story and the character representing Franklin. Yet the book is plucky and fun and worth reading. Through much of the book, I was troubled by how negatively she depicted herself, her parents, and many of the people with whom she lived and worked. The plot and characters are not always believable. The writing is uneven and full very adolescent mood shifts. The book has weaknesses as a piece of literature, perhaps resulting from the immaturity of its author. She fictionalized her story, but I was never clear how much.
The book is obviously autobiographical, drawing her own experiences of her family’s downward mobility and her own frustrated ambitions. Initially, she hoped to publish it as a male author by using only her second two names, but her ruse quickly failed. She sought help for young Australian writers and was responsible for a major literary award in the country, which was named after her, using the male version of her name: The Miles Franklin award.įranklin wrote My Brilliant Career when she was still in her teens. When she returned to Australia she continued to write and support various causes. She spent years in the USA, working for labor and women’s causes with Progressive women in Chicago such as Alice Henry, also from Australia, Margaret Dreier Robins of the National Women’s Trade Union League, and Jane Adams of Hull House. Stella Miles Franklin was important as an Australian writer, feminist, and advocate of literary talent. My Brilliant Career, by Stella Miles Franklin.Īn Australian classic by and about a young woman growing up in the bush and frustrated by her lack of options. Happy Birthday, Stella Miles Franklin, October 14th
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