On January 29, 2015, the famous Australian writer died, leaving a bright mark in world literature. Famous for the large-scale epic, which became an international bestseller, she stood on a par with American authors who gained fame after the release of a single work - H. Lee and D. D. Salinger. Prose writers who woke up famous, eschewed people and led a reclusive life.
Colin McCullough, which will be discussed in our article, also went to a secluded island, located near Australia, and died in the same place in the Norfolk clinic, at the age of 78.
Medicine and Writing
Born in 1937 in Australia, the future writer from a young age showed her remarkable talent by writing poetry and painting beautifully. The girl who entered Sydney University was carried away by neuropsychology and dreamed of founding her own department, which was done later. In 1963, she was offered to do research at Yale University, and without hesitation, Colin moved to the United States, where he taught for a long time at a medical school. Her first books were written here, and all in all 25 novels were seen, variously appreciated by readers.
The first novel is Tim
Colin McCullough, whose biography indicates that she showed herself as a creative person since childhood, released her first work in 1974. The literary debut, which tells about the relationship of the old maid and a mentally retarded man, received positive reviews from critics. The novel "Tim", where the author used her experience as a scientist, sold well, and Colin, who worked as a researcher with a small salary, realizes that he can earn by writing. She begins to write with the expectation of a regular reader in anticipation of commercial success.
Epic commercial success
And he did not fail to come to her. In 1977, a true masterpiece of world literature was published, which became an incredible discovery for millions of people around the world. A detailed story translated into 20 languages about the burning passion of two lovers became the hallmark of Colin McCullough.
“Singing in Blackthorns” is a female novel that quickly turned into one of the most iconic books of the last century. Such works, penetrated by psychology and full of strong characters, can be counted on the fingers of the hand in the literary world. Along the line is the bestseller Gone With the Wind by M. Mitchell - a book in which the tragic history of the civil war complements the love affair of the main characters. The two novels are similar in scope and scale, however, in the novel by Colin McCullough, the main point is the reckoning for a strong feeling, the problems of not only love but also faith are touched on.
The story of the difficult fate of women
A touching story that captures the reader’s attention from the first pages tells of the forbidden love of the priest and the girl Maggie. According to critics, this is not a specific woman’s story, but the fate of entire generations of Irish families who are in trouble but who believe in happiness. Behind the terrible losses and moments of joy lies the true meaning of life.
The main character Maggie on her way will meet many obstacles, but no trouble can break her persistent character. An independent woman repeating the fate of her mother cannot be with her beloved priest Ralph, who is moving up the career ladder.
Retribution for happiness
Colin McCullough argues that nothing in our lives goes unpunished. For everything that a person received, he will have to pay, and every minute of happiness will turn into years of loneliness. Such an unusual approach of the writer to inevitable rock and the incredible sincerity of the heroes whom you empathize explains the stunning popularity of the novel.
Deep work
After the release of the television series in 1983, which received several awards and broke all records for viewers, the author spoke unflatteringly about the work of the director and actors. She felt that Richard Chamberlain did not fit the role of a priest, and that the tape was removed by a lay person who did not know what he was doing.
After watching the series, many rushed to read the book and were surprised to find that the multi-page work is much more interesting and deeper than the television version. Some moral questions raised in the novel were skipped by the director, who wished to focus only on the forbidden passion of loving hearts.
New Family Saga
Another large-scale work can be called a new work by Colin McCullough. Touch is a family saga with a captivating storyline and interweaving of fates in Victorian Australia. The main character, Elizabeth, who comes to her future husband, an influential and wealthy person, loves solitude and arouses sympathy for everyone who plunges into a romance.
The whole period from the life of several families with personal tragedies, love stories and flashing momentary passions is described.
The events in the book span almost 30 years, and it is interesting to observe the formation and development of Elizabeth, her husband Alexander, the growing up of children. Not a single hero, even a minor one, remains the same as at the beginning of the story, each goes his own way, changing either dramatically or insignificantly.
The writer pays attention to the development of technological progress in the country, and readers note lengthy descriptions of gold mining and engineering. Critics' opinion was unambiguous - the work is interesting, but not up to the novel, which brought incredible fame to Colin McCullough.
The Story of Debt Above All
Other works of the Australian did not attract such massive attention of readers. A psychological novel tells us that a sense of duty for a person is above all, and this is what Colin McCullough draws attention to. “Obscene passion” tells of the love of a nurse working in the psychiatric ward of a military hospital and a war veteran who believes that he is responsible for all of humanity. The main character dreams in peacetime to give herself all over to people suffering from various disorders, and makes this a high price for personal happiness.
The passion that arose between a woman and a man is obscene, according to the writer, due to the fact that lovers forget about other people for whom they are responsible. The main characters choose duty, not a great feeling. It is curious that, based on a piercing story, a feature film of the same name was shot.
Colin McCullough, whose books are written in different genres, sincerely told the happy and tragic stories of different families, interweaving political events and social phenomena in them. The author, included in the list of the best writers of the 20th century, will forever remain in the hearts of grateful readers.