The Norseman's Song / Joel Deane
An ancient man without a past hails a taxi driven by a petty criminal with no future.
Reluctantly, the pair embarks on a journey in search of a legendary whaler and murderer known only as the Norseman. This is a one-way trip — but who’s taking who for a ride?
The Norseman’s Song is a stylish blend of gothic mystery and modern crime noir. Evoking the spirit of Joseph Conrad and Edgar Allan Poe, Joel Deane creates a violent and lyrical vision of contemporary Australia with the pace and energy of a road movie and the haunting atmosphere of a nightmare.
Joel Deane is the author of seven books, including The Norseman’s Song, Catch and Kill: the politics of power, and Magisterium, and has written speeches for Labor politicians such as Bill Shorten, Steve Bracks, and John Brumby. He has been a finalist for the Walkley Award and the Melbourne Prize for Literature, and been shortlisted for the Anne Elder Award.
“A bold unfolding of a succession of nightmares, issuing from probable truths and from feverish imaginings, a striking juxtaposition of legendary past and seedy present … While Deane belongs to a long line of yarn-spinners in Australian fiction (from Henry Lawson to Frank Hardy to Peter Carey) his closest affinity may be with one of the most antic and anarchic spirits of our literature …”
“This is beautifully written crime noir by a writer in total command of his craft. A gripping, yet lyrical, read.”
“A three-part opus for the male voice … the diva of this novel is the Australian speech, superbly rendered. Blokes yarn: cut-throat tales of the cab-rank, news-round shockers, and finally the stuff of horror movies.”
“A slice of Southern gothic that is a unique, and very welcome addition to Australian literature.”
