The Fear (Keneally novel)
| Company type | Novel |
|---|---|
| Industry | Literature |
| Founded | 1965 |
| Founder | Thomas Keneally |
| Products | Novel |
The Fear (1965) is a novel authored by Australian writer Thomas Keneally, which was also released under the alternative title By the Line.
Story outline
Set during World War II, the narrative centers on Danny Jordan, a young boy moved from New South Wales' Macleay Valley to Sydney due to concerns about a potential Japanese invasion. Danny's family resides beside a hostile Communist who directs aggression toward him.
Critical reception
Maurice Dunlevy, writing for The Canberra Times, criticized the book for lacking a clear focus, characterizing it as more of an information-packed feature piece than a unified story. Conversely, a 1968 review in Woroni commended Keneally’s authentic depiction of childhood feelings but noted that his treatment of more somber subjects was less effective.
Notes
In a 2013 discussion, Keneally referred to The Fear as a necessary retelling of his early years and admitted to inaccuracies in its brief mention of the Cowra breakout, an event he revisited in his later works. Initially titled No Need for Spoils, the novel was later revised and reissued as By the Line in 1989 by University of Queensland Press.