Features

Offerings and jeremiads

by Bruce Grant •

March 2011, no. 329

Ill Fares the Land by Tony Judt

Allen Lane, $29.95 pb, 238 pp

The Memory Chalet by Tony Judt

William Heinemann, $45 hb, 240 pp, 9780434020966

Features

Offerings and jeremiads

by Bruce Grant •

March 2011, no. 329

These two books were written in the last stages of a fatal illness. What is remarkable about them is their poise. They show no signs of anguish, anger, or remorse. They remind us of the discipline of a trained and responsible mind, nimble and true to its calling until the end.

Bruce Grant

In an active public life as foreign correspondent, columnist, academic, and diplomat, Bruce Grant has also written ten works of non-fiction, three novels, essays and many short stories. His first book Indonesia became a classic. He was a Nieman Fellow at Harvard University, Australian High Commissioner in New Delhi, foundation chairman of the Australia-Indonesia Institute, chairman of the Australian Dance Theatre, chairman of the Victorian Premier’s literary awards, and president of Melbourne’s International Arts Festival.