A very delightful book, warmly written. It is of medium size, not too thick and heavy so makes for a comfortable read. The publication is divided into twenty seven chapters with an epilogue and a great biographical timeline and bibliography, but no index!
It is both auto-and biographical – we learn of Dymphna Stella Rees’ life but the book concentrates on the lives of Leslie Rees and Coralie Clarke Rees. Leslie Rees and Coralie Clarke Rees were a power couple of the Australian literary scene in the mid-twentieth century. When Dymphna Stella Rees discovers love letters hidden in the unwieldy mass of her parent’s papers she is fascinated. Based on personal notebooks, letters and original transcripts, much of the book is directly quoted from original sources.
Dymphna now manages her parents’ literary archive. For many years she was Principal Officer: English and Humanities in the New South Wales vocational education and training sector. During her time in TAFE, she created the first Diploma of Aboriginal Studies and drove other innovations in post-secondary curricula. Dymphna holds a Master’s Degree in Aboriginal Studies and postgraduate diplomas in education and counselling. She is an elected member of AIATSIS (the Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies). Dymphna has also been an advocate for families affected by mental illness and has worked as a counsellor with women and children escaping family violence. She lives in the Hunter region of New South Wales and delights in her large family.
We learn of Leslie and Coralie’s early lives – both grew up in Perth WA and attended the same school but were years apart and also separated by education and funds. There are conflicting stories as to how they met at University.
We are also informed about Coralie’s strong support of women’s voice, rights and choices throughout her life.
It also looks at the problems of collaborating on a book, and sharing intellectual and physical writing space and the push to meet deadlines for books/articles/scripts and so on. This was especially the case as they shared only one typewriter between them. How did they manage?What about the responsibilities of parenting?
While at university Coralie was editor of a journal called The Dawn while Leslie was drama critic for the West Australian. They end up editing a journal called The Black Swan .
Leslie wanted to go to London to expand his knowledge of theatre. He applied for a scholarship and was successful. Bu, –eighteen months at least separated from Coralie? How will they survive? For by this time they were deeply in love.
A chapter of the book is devoted to Leslie’s letters to Coralie describing the voyage to London and his usually hidden emotions are revealed. The chapter includes Coralie’s replies. They have a powerful sharing of minds and interests.
Coralie, meanwhile, is frantically busy too. Eventually she applies for a scholarship to London too and also moves to London! The differences in their voyages are highlighted. Coralie arrives in London July 1930 and eventually they marry. They struggle financially.
We then find a lot about Coralie mentoring Professor Allardyce Nicoll and how both Coralie and Leslie made great use of the resources of the British Museum Library.
After many disheartening rejections Leslie scored a job as drama critic for The Era. We read of the famous people Leslie and Coralie contacted /interviewed – for example Virginia Woolf, James Joyce, Baroness Orczy, A. A .Milne, JB Priestly, Somerset Maughan and George Bernard Shaw.
Both Leslie and Coralie became very homesick for Australia and after fulfilling the requirements of their scholarships they decided to return home. Once settled back home Coralie began working as PA/Secretary for the legendary and very temperamental Eileen Joyce.
The couple became very involved in Sydney’s dynamic arts scene and their careers in the arts took off. Leslie became an award-winning children’s author and the ABC’s national drama editor, while Coralie established a career as one of Australia’s first female broadcasters.
World War 11 hit with the bombing of Darwin, the Japanese submarines in Sydney Harbour, air raids, blackouts and rationing. Leslie’s war service was as an air raid warden while Coralie was involved in the Women’s Land Army. Dymphna’s sister Megan was born in 1938 whilst Dymphna herself was born during the War. They moved to West Australia for safety then back to Sydney again. Dymphna wrote of the family friendship with Miles Franklin and how the couple influenced the development of an authentically Australian arts culture. Mary Gilmore, Ruth Park, D’Arcy Niland, Mary Durack and Vance and Nettie Palmer were some of their high profile friends.
We read of life at Shellcove in Sydney, including idyllic boating and plenty of swimming, and that Coralie’s sister Averil moved to Sydney and became Dymphna’s ‘ second mum’. We also read of the very sad life of cousin Ailsa, Averil’s daughter.
In 1946 Coralie was given her grandfather Benjamin’s diary and we learn how he was involved in the massive task of installing the overland telegraph from Port Augusta to Tennant’s Creek, described as ‘the greatest engineering feat in nineteenth century Australia’. The diary is now held in the Mitchell Library.
Their travel writing- research for their ABC programs and for Leslie’s children’s stories – was highly regarded. There are many exciting travel adventures that only the hardy would survive and some mysterious stories including Leslie nearly drowning in a sinking Mission boat and Coralie encountering a spooky solitary horseman.
The last part of the book is very sad, with Coralie’s slow deterioration caused by Ankylosing Spondylitis. She passed away in 1972. Leslie ended his life in a respite centre and passed away in 2000. Megan passed away in 2016.
Gratifyingly, Dymphna’s life and work continues.
A PAPER INHERITANCE is a warm, intimate celebration of her parent’s lives; their marriage, close collaboration and love of language.
This was a beautifully written, captivating read.
Featured image : Dymphna Stella Rees in front of a portrait of her parents painted by artist Dora Toovey.
A PAPER INHERITANCE by Dymphna Stella Rees
Publisher : UNIVERSITY OF QUEENSLAND PRESS
ISBN : 9780702263200
Paperback
Available now
https://www.uqp.com.au/books/a-paper-inheritance