The Drowner (1996) is a novel by author Robert Drewe.
It was shortlisted for Miles Franklin Award, and won the Vance Palmer
Prize for Fiction and New South Wales Premier's Literary Awards — Book of the Year in 1997.
Plot summary
In the late 19th century an Englishman irrigator or "drowner", Will Dance, utilises ancient water-knowledge and modern technology to save a drought-ridden town in Western Australia.
Reviews
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Publishers' Weekly noted: "The desert mining town,..., comes fully to life, invigorated by crisp and moving portrayals of Drewe's minor characters and the monotonous beauty of the hostile (blessedly arid) countryside."
[ "The Drowner, Robert Drewe, author", Publishers' Weekly]
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Garth Crawford in Woroni stated: "In his mastery of image, and spare but beautiful descriptions of this quest, Drewe reveals his strongest claim to pre-eminence. The Drowner is by an author who enjoys words, weighs and places each without mistaking linguistic asceticism for aestheticism."
[ "The Drowner - Robert Drewe" by Garth Crawford, Woroni, 10 October 1996]
Awards and nominations
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1997 winner New South Wales Premier's Literary Awards — Christina Stead Prize for Fiction
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1997 winner New South Wales Premier's Literary Awards — Book of the Year
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1997 shortlisted Commonwealth Writer's Prize — South East Asia and South Pacific Region - Best First Novel
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1997 winner Vance Palmer Prize for Fiction
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1998 winner Adelaide Festival Awards for Literature
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1998 winner Adelaide Festival Awards for Literature — Premier's Award for the Best Overall Published Work
Notes
A film adaptation of the novel was reportedly arranging funding in 2010,
and was in pre-production in 2013. It was to be directed by Jeff Darling from a screenplay by Justin Monjo, and produced by Michael Boughen and Matthew Street and production company Ambience Entertainment.
