The Fern Tattoo

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The Fern Tattoo
LC Class
PR9619.3.B715 F47 2007

The Fern Tattoo is a 2007 novel by the Australian author David Brooks.

Dedication

"To my daughter Jessica"

Plot summary

Benedict's mother has recently died; after the funeral, he receives a phone call from Mrs. Darling, a friend of his mother's. Benedict visits the old woman in the countryside, where she tells him various tales that involve three generations of families. He spends the next several years visiting Mrs. Darling, rearranging his personal plans, so he can visit her more often. One day, he receives a phone call that Mrs. Darling is dying. He finally learns that the stories she has been telling him have been about his own family.[1]

Epigraph

"Yes, man is broad, too broad indeed. I'd have him narrower." - Dmitri Fyodorovitch Karamazov: The Brothers Karamazov, Fyodor Dostoevsky

Awards

  • Miles Franklin Literary Award, 2008: shortlisted[2][3]

Notes

  1. ^ Kevin Rabalais (8 December 2007). "Faced with lies that ring true". The Australian. Archived from the original on 27 September 2008. Retrieved 27 September 2008.
  2. ^ "Council NEWS in brief - Local News - News - General - Bega District News". 19 September 2008. Archived from the original on 19 September 2008. Retrieved 27 September 2008.
  3. ^ Lauren Wilson (18 April 2008). "Outsider in mix for Ozlit top gong". The Australian. Archived from the original on 11 August 2011. Retrieved 27 September 2008.