The Songlines facts for kids
First edition
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| Author | Bruce Chatwin |
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| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
| Publisher | Franklin Press |
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Publication date
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1987 |
| Media type | Print (Hardback & Paperback) |
The Songlines is a book from 1987. It was written by Bruce Chatwin. The book mixes real facts with made-up stories. Chatwin writes about his trip to Australia. He went there to learn about Aboriginal songs. He also wanted to see how these songs connect to people who travel a lot. He talked to many Australians, including Indigenous Australians. From them, he learned about life in the Outback. He also learned about Aboriginal culture, their beliefs, and their rights to their land.
What the Book is About
Chatwin shares his main idea about Aboriginal songs. He believes these songs are very old and important. The book also shows how hard life can be for Aboriginal people today. But it also celebrates their amazing art and culture. For them, Songlines help them understand what is real.
The first part of the book follows the main character's journey. He travels through the Australian Outback and meets different people. The second part is about his thoughts on humans. He thinks about why some people like to travel and why others like to stay in one place.
The Main Idea: Songs and Travel
Chatwin suggests that language started as song. In the Aboriginal Dreamtime, people sang the land into being. When you sing about a tree, a rock, or a path, they become real. The singers feel connected to them.
Chatwin uses ideas from Aboriginal culture. He also uses modern ideas about how humans evolved. He argues that long ago, on the African Savannah, humans moved around a lot. We were like travelers, and big cats hunted us. Our journeys created "songlines" all over the world. These lines eventually reached Australia. There, they are still part of the world's oldest living culture.
More to Explore
- Ethnogeology
- Dreaming (Australian Aboriginal art)
- Aboriginal title on land rights
Images for kids
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A damaged proof copy
