‘Sentimental blokes’, Meanjin, 66, 1, Autumn 2007, pp. 38-46
The author examines the homoerotic elements to the myth of Australian mateship and the way that this plays out in various literary representations, as well as in terms of the historical development of Australian identity. Beginning with Russell Ward’s The Australian Legend, a path is drawn through different poets and authors both from Australia and overseas. The piece also suggests that the recent ‘coming out’ of mateship in Australia has had some uncomfortable consequences. An extract.