Review of On Dearborn Street by Miles Franklin

Abstract

Told in the first person from the viewpoint of a male suitor, On Dearborn Street, now published for the first time from an MS in the Mitchell Library, is the story of a young stenographer and unrecognised litterateur, Sybyl Penelo, and the dilemma faced by a young woman of exceptional talent, spirited mischief and independent mind when wooed by a wealthy and attractive young man. Although drawing on a theme Franklin had already explored in My Brilliant Career, On Dearborn Street lacks the graphic context and crude authenticity of the first novel while yet retaining much of its self-consciousness and romanticism.

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Published 1 May 1982 in Volume 10 No. 3. Subjects: Women - Literary portrayal, Miles Franklin.

Cite as: Kirkby, Dianne. ‘Review of On Dearborn Street by Miles Franklin.’ Australian Literary Studies, vol. 10, no. 3, 1982, doi: 10.20314/als.e6b0944516.