The Survivor (Keneally novel)

For other novels, see The Survivor (disambiguation) § Literature.

The Survivor

First edition
Author	Thomas Keneally
Language	English
Publisher	Angus and Robertson, Australia
Publication date	1969
Publication place	Australia
Media type	Print (Hardback & Paperback)
Pages	282
ISBN	0-207-95312-0
OCLC	79598
Dewey Decimal	823
LC Class	PZ4.K336 Su PR9619.3.K46
Preceded by	Three Cheers for the Paraclete
Followed by	A Dutiful Daughter

The Survivor is a 1969 novel by Australian author Thomas Keneally.[1]

Premise

Alec Ramsey talks about a mission to Antarctica in the 1920s of which he was a survivor. He feels guilt over the death of the expedition leader, Leeming.

Ramsey had an affair with Leeming's wife and is torn with guilt over it.[2]

Background

The book was originally called On Ice.[3]

Keneally's research included travelling to Antarctica on a US Navy ship. It was also based on his experience of being a university lecturer in Armidale.[3]

The book was dedicated to W. H. Crook.

Reception

The Sydney Morning Herald called it "this rich, indigestible plumb of a book."[3]

The Canberra Times said "the book is immensely entertaining. It has a pleasantly intriguing story to tell, with plenty of suspense and much highly diverting academic comedy."[4]

Awards and nominations

Captain Cook Bicentenary Awards, Novel Section, 1970: joint winner with Barry Oakley's Let's Hear it for Predergast.[5][6]

Reviews

• "Southerly" Vol 30 No 1, 1970, by Michael Wilding

References

1. "Austlit — The Survivor by Thomas Keneally". Austlit. Retrieved 20 January 2024.
2. "Books The traps Keneally does not survive", 105 volumes : illustrations (chiefly coloured), portraits (chiefly coloured) ; 30-40 cm., The Bulletin, John Ryan Comic Collection (Specific issues)., vol. 91, no. 4678, Sydney, N.S.W: John Haynes and J.F. Archibald, 8 November 1969 [1880], ISSN 0007-4039, nla.obj-1721915726, retrieved 3 June 2023 – via Trove
3. Jones, Margaret (1 November 1969). "Out of the glacier". The Sydney Morning Herald Weekend Magazine. p. 17.
4. "Appointment in Antarctica". The Canberra Times. Vol. 44, no. 12, 469. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 15 November 1969. p. 15. Retrieved 3 June 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
5. "Two novellists share prize". The Age. 27 October 1970. p. 2.
6. "'Unknown' hits the top". The Canberra Times. Vol. 45, no. 12, 732. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 27 October 1970. p. 3. Retrieved 3 June 2023 – via National Library of Australia.

External links

• The Survivor at AustLit