The Sons of Clovis is an outstanding literary history that will change almost everything you think you know about Australia's most famous literary hoax, the Ern Malley affair, and the motivations of its creators.
After more than 20 years of researching and writing, acclaimed Australian novelist, poet and scholar, David Brooks, has produced what may well become the most talked about literary book of 2011.
For the first time, The Sons of Clovis unlocks the real story behind Australia's most famous literary scandal - the Ern Malley Hoax. What David Brooks has discovered is really a hoax behind the hoax and how Ern Malley's poems were in fact heavily influenced by the French Adore Floupette poetry hoax of 1885. The poems were not just pieced mindlessly and rapidly together as was originally thought, but were in fact highly manufactured.
David Brooks is the author of three novels, most recently The Umbrella Club (UQP, 2009). His second novel, The Fern Tattoo, was shortlisted for the 2008 Miles Franklin Award. The Balcony, his latest collection of poetry, was shortlisted for the 2009 NSW Premiers Kenneth Slessor Award. His work has been widely anthologised, and translated into several languages. He teaches Australian literature at the University of Sydney and is the co-editor of the journal Southerly.http://www.varuna.com.au