Exiled in Language

Many writers of the twentieth century lived in exile, whether for a short stretch abroad or for good. This book examines four German-speaking poets and writers who settled in Australia after leaving Nazi-controlled Europe, where staying meant risking death. Their situation was an unusual one: they were exiles once removed, having fled from a homeland they had already left. Professor Walter Tonetto looks closely at how each of them used language, working with skill in both German and English. Some Australians met the newcomers with suspicion and crude mockery, and one of the exiles answered in kind by calling Australia a hell with poor wine.

The author assesses the individual achievement of each writer and the part each played in shaping Australian literature, which has grown into a confident and internationally recognized body of work. The study also traces how these figures affected both contemporary Australian writing and German and Austrian writing, and it considers their bilingual gifts as central to that influence.