Sensitive short stories
The Gypsies and Other Stories. By Helen Shaw. Price Milburn, Victoria University Press. 112 pp. $3.50.
In a short essay following the stories Helen Shaw notes influences in her writing career and ways of working. These may be direct: “an outside world is recomposed,” or intuitional: “a story is the lotus that has floated up, and formed on the waters of underlying experiences.” The latter quote suggests a romantic approach and many of these stories
have a distance between aspiration and everyday reality. Emotion has a touch of Tolstoy, dramatic and noble pathos or joyous zest. The characters in conversation or introspection are a little stilted and some have the larger than life perspective and setting of an old film. Nevertheless, this formalised emotion has fine moments of insight into the needs of age and youth. “The Revival” and “The Gypsies” are particularly sensitive and compassionate studies. — HEATHER McPHERSON.
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Press, 14 April 1979, Page 17
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152Sensitive short stories Press, 14 April 1979, Page 17
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