2 Weeks with the Queen
| Two Weeks with the Queen | |
|---|---|
| Author(s) | Morris Gleitzman |
| Country | Australia, England, USA |
| Language | English |
| Genre(s) | Young Adult |
| Publisher | Pan Books |
| Publication date | 1990 |
| Media type | Print (Paperback) |
| ISBN | 0330271830 0330271830 (pbk.) |
Two Weeks With The Queen (ISBN 0-399-22249-9) is a 1990 novel by an Australian author Morris Gleitzman about a 12-year-old Australian boy, Colin Mudford
Main characters: Colin Ted Alistair
Contents |
[edit] Notability
Two Weeks With The Queen was published during a time of change in Australia, particularly economic and political change. Then Prime Minister Paul Keating announced the recession on 29 November – the economic struggles of average families is shown in the early part of the book, where Colin’s parents cannot afford to buy him an expensive ‘want’, and instead give him a ‘need’ - sensible school shoes, which go unappreciated.
Queen Elizabeth visited Australia in 1992 - leading to controversy when Keating placed his hand on her back. Events such as this highlight the differences in familiarity between the two cultures. Collin wanted to meet the Queen to ask if she knows anybody who can save his brother. AIDS was a growing concern in Australia. Two Weeks With The Queen was published only three years after the prominent 'Grim Reaper' public service announcements, and is significant for addressing the issue. Although it presents a homosexual man with a partner dying of the disease, it humanises Ted and presents his plight as very real, significant, and similar to Colin's struggle with his brother's illness. In 1987, the first hospital for AIDS sufferers was opened by Princess Diana [1] - her hands-on approach contrasting vastly with the absence of the Queen in the text.
[edit] The Meaning
This story is about never giving up and to have courage on the things you would like to achieve. In this case, Collin tries to help Luke through his illness and wants to spend the last times with his brother. This story is also about Sacrifice and how Collin would do anything to help his brother.
[edit] Adaptation for theatre
The book was adapted to theatre in 1992 by Mary Morris and premiered at the Sydney Festival in the same year. Directed by Wayne Harrison, it received rich praise from its first performances and has since been produced in England, Canada, Japan, USA, Cuba and Portugal.[2]
[edit] References
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