Trap (novel)
Trap (1966) marks the first novel by Australian writer Peter Mathers. It was honored with the distinguished Miles Franklin Award in the year 1966.
Story outline
Set in the 1960s near Melbourne, the narrative follows Jack Trap, a man of mixed Irish, English, and Aboriginal descent. In his forties, Trap becomes part of a small collective of outsiders aiming to create a cooperative settlement on a mining lease located at Cape York.
Critical reception
Maurice Dunlevy, writing for The Canberra Times, described Trap as a somewhat unpolished debut: "It strives for satire and shock but ultimately feels naive... The irony is heavy-handed, the targets predictable, and it lacks profound resonance." On the other hand, Roger Milliss from Sydney's Tribune highlighted its stylistic similarities to Patrick White’s suburban satires and its focus on Aboriginal themes, situating it within a wider Australian literary context.
Publication history
Originally released by Cassell in 1966, subsequent editions of Trap were issued by:
- Sphere, United Kingdom (1970)
- Nelson, Australia (1978)
- Sydney University Press, Australia (2003)