The Women in Black
 First edition | |
| Author | Madeleine St John |
|---|---|
| Language | English |
| Genre | Literary |
| Publisher | Andre Deutsch Ltd |
Publication date | 1993 |
| Media type | Print Paperback |
| Followed by | A Pure Clear Light |
The Women in Black (1993) is a novel by Australian author Madeleine St John. It is her first novel, and is the only one she set in Australia.[1]
Plot Summary
The novel tells the story of a group of department store employees in 1959 Sydney. It is set primarily during the Christmas rush period when young school leaver, Lisa, joins the women.
Adaptations
In 2015, the novel was adapted to a musical, re-titled The Ladies in Black, by Carolyn Burns, with music and lyrics by Tim Finn.
It was also adapted into a movie in 2018, titled Ladies in Black, and directed by Australian film director Bruce Beresford. Beresford spent some 25 years trying to raise the money to make this film after securing the rights from St John, whom he'd known at Sydney University in the 1960s. He reconnected with her after their mutual friend Clive James recommended the book to him.[2]
References
- ^ Sullivan, Jane (5 October 2018). "Turning Pages: The Joys of the Ladies in Black". The Age. Retrieved 8 September 2019.
- ^ Beresford, Bruce (9 September 2018). "At last making the film that obsessed me for 30 years". The Guardian. Retrieved 8 September 2019.