Between the Leaves: Stories of Australian Women, Writing and Gardens

Katie Holmes

Between the Leaves is an intimate exploration into the lives of nine twentieth-century women – including Judith Wright, Katharine Susannah Prichard, Winifred Stephensen and Jean Galbraith – who wrote about their garden in their letters and diaries.

This book explores the notion that a garden, as both a private and public space, offered these women a refuge for memories, a place where their personal stories, fantasies and longing found expression. 

The writings are rich, diverse, eloquent and surprising, and reveal stories of grief, hope, friendship, separation, family, ageing, creativity, identity, and the now consuming question of how we live in a changing climate.

Awards

Shortlisted – 2012 Australian Historical Association Magarey Medal for biography
Special Commendation – 2011 Fellowship of Australian Writers Sid Harta Literature Award (Non-fiction)

Praise for Between the Leaves:

The sombre ‘gum leaves ethereal’ on the cover of this book capture the heartache, hope, commitment and passion these women experienced as they shared the narrative of their lives and added their gardening contribution to the great Australian landscape.

SUSAN PARSONS, CANBERRA TIMES

Holmes' sensitive book demonstrates how gardens truly shaped the lives of these nine women as they in turn shaped their gardens.

PELICAN MAGAZINE

Book details

PUBLICATION DATE: 2011
FORMAT: Paperback
EXTENT: 304 pages
SIZE: 234 x 153 mm
ISBN: 9781742582535
RIGHTS: World
CATEGORY: Australian Studies, Biography and Autobiography, Book Club Books, General Non-fiction, Katie Holmes,