Miles Franklin Award Winner

My Brother Jack

A&R Australian Classics

By: George Johnston

Write A Review

Paperback | 1 March 2013

At a Glance

Paperback
384 Pages

Dimensions(cm)
19.5 x 13 x 3

Paperback

RRP $24.99

$21.75

13%OFF

or 4 interest-free payments of $5.44 with

In Stock and Ships in 1-2 business days

'The thing I am trying to get at is what made Jack different from me. Different all through our lives, I mean, and in a special sense, not just older or nobler or braver or less clever.'

David and Jack Meredith grow up in a patriotic suburban Melbourne household during the First World War, and go on to lead lives that could not be more different. Through the story of the two brothers, George Johnston created an enduring exploration of two Australian myths: that of the man who loses his soul as he gains worldly success, and that of the tough, honest Aussie battler, whose greatest ambition is to serve his country during the war. Acknowledged as one of the true Australian classics, My Brother Jack is a deeply satisfying, complex and moving literary masterpiece.

About the Author

George Johnson died in 1970, at the age of 59, after a long battle with tuberculosis. Clean Straw for Nothing, first published in 1969, and A Cartload of Clay, first published in 1971, completed his Meredith trilogy - the first book of which is the highly acclaimed My Brother Jack.

Despite a lack of formal education, Johnston became a renowned journalist and one of Australia′s foremost war correspondents. The latter saw him travel extensively throughout the war and included his presence on board the USS Missouri for the signing of the peace treaty.

His marriage to the writer and essayist Charmian Clift not only lead to further travel and their experience of expatriate life in England and in Greece, but also to much romanticising of their lives together. In many respects this has distracted attention from their distinctive and respective writing achievements.

Both My Brother Jack and Clean Straw for Nothing won the Miles Franklin award and, in 1969, Johnston was awarded an OBE.

Clean Straw for Nothing and A Cartload of Clay are introspective, cynical and bittersweet memories of a man torn between his past and present whilst enduring illness and contemplating death. Although written in differing styles, the search for answers to a convoluted past and a quest for meaning and truth make both books a remarkable memorial to George Johnston.

Industry Reviews

'Enthralling ... entertaining ... vividly original'
The Age

Shipping

	Standard Shipping	Express Shipping
Metro postcodes:	$9.99	$14.95
Regional postcodes:	$9.99	$14.95
Rural postcodes:	$9.99	$14.95

Orders over $79.00 qualify for free shipping.

How to return your order

At Booktopia, we offer hassle-free returns in accordance with our returns policy. If you wish to return an item, please get in touch with Booktopia Customer Care.

Additional postage charges may be applicable.

Defective items

If there is a problem with any of the items received for your order then the Booktopia Customer Care team is ready to assist you.

For more info please visit our Help Centre.

You Can Find This Book In

Non-Fiction Literature, Poetry & Plays Education Schools & Pre-Schools Australian Curriculum Historical Fiction for the Australian Curriculum Lower Secondary (Yr 7 - 10)Upper Secondary (YA)The Holiday Haven Summer Reading Fiction Modern & Contemporary Fiction

Contemporary Literature Literary Fiction Text Books Higher Education & Vocational Textbooks English & Literature Higher Education Textbooks

The A&R Australian Classics Series

Hell West and Crooked

A &R Australian Classics

Paperback

RRP $24.99

$21.75

13%
OFF

The Cattle King

A &R Australian Classics

Paperback

RRP $24.99

$21.75

13%
OFF

My Brother Jack

A &R Australian Classics

Paperback

RRP $24.99

$21.75

13%
OFF

Maestro

A &R Australian Classics

Paperback

RRP $19.99

$18.75

Because a White Man'll Never Do it

A &R Classics

Paperback

RRP $24.99

$21.75

13%
OFF

One Crowded Hour : Neil Davis, Combat Cameraman 1934-85 - Tim Bowden

$21.75

13%
OFF

People of the Book

A &R Modern Australian Classics

Paperback

RRP $24.99

$21.75

13%
OFF

My Brilliant Career & My Career Goes Bung

A &R Australian Classics

Paperback

RRP $24.99

$24.75

The Sundowners

A &R Australian Classics

Paperback

RRP $22.99

$22.75

Capricornia : A &R Australian Classics - Xavier Herbert

$23.75

The Chant of Jimmie Blacksmith

A &R Australian Classics

Paperback

RRP $24.99

$23.75

Coonardoo

A &R Australian Classics

Paperback

RRP $24.99

$24.75

My Love Must Wait : A &R Australian Classics - Ernestine Hill

$24.75

The Storm of Time : A &R Australian Classics - Eleanor Dark

$22.75

50 Must Read Australian Novels

Boy Swallows Universe

Paperback

RRP $22.99

$20.75

10%
OFF

Cloudstreet

Penguin Australian Classics

Paperback

RRP $24.99

$21.75

13%
OFF

We of the Never-Never

Vintage Classics

Paperback

RRP $14.99

$14.75

Monkey Grip

Paperback

RRP $22.99

$20.75

10%
OFF

The Book Thief

Paperback

RRP $22.99

$20.75

10%
OFF

The Yield

Winner of the 2020 Miles Franklin Award

Paperback

RRP $24.99

$21.75

13%
OFF

The Seven Skins of Esther Wilding

The bestselling uplifting emotional novel from the beloved international author of The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart

Paperback

RRP $24.99

$21.75

13%
OFF

The Narrow Road to the Deep North

Paperback

RRP $24.99

$21.75

13%
OFF

Carpentaria

Paperback

RRP $34.95

$29.75

15%
OFF

The Boat

1st Edition

Paperback

RRP $24.99

$21.75

13%
OFF

Truth

Paperback

RRP $23.95

$20.99

12%
OFF

The Secret River

Historical Trilogy

Paperback

RRP $22.99

$20.75

10%
OFF

Cocaine Blues

Phryne Fisher : Book 1

Paperback

RRP $22.99

$20.75

10%
OFF

A Fraction of the Whole

Paperback

RRP $24.99

$21.75

13%
OFF

All That I Am

Winner of the Miles Franklin Literary Award 2012

Paperback

RRP $24.99

$21.75

13%
OFF

For The Term Of His Natural Life : Popular Penguins

Popular Penguins

Paperback

RRP $14.99

$14.75

The Rosie Project

Don Tillman : Book 1

Paperback

RRP $22.99

$20.75

10%
OFF

The Dressmaker

Paperback

RRP $14.99

$14.75

True History of the Kelly Gang

Paperback

RRP $24.99

$19.75

21%
OFF

Big Little Lies

Paperback

RRP $19.99

$18.75

The Dry

Paperback

RRP $22.99

$20.75

10%
OFF

Schindler's Ark

Winner of the 1982 Man Booker Prize

Paperback

RRP $23.99

$18.75

22%
OFF

The Slap

1st Edition

Paperback

RRP $24.99

$21.75

13%
OFF

Terra Nullius

Paperback

RRP $22.99

$20.75

10%
OFF

Classics Buzz Reading Challenge

Demons

Penguin Classics

Paperback

RRP $22.99

$18.39

20%
OFF

The Age Of Innocence

Vintage Classics

Paperback

RRP $19.99

$15.99

20%
OFF

Memoirs of Hadrian (including Reflections on the Composition of Memoirs of Hadrian)

And Reflections on the Composition of Memoirs of Hadrian

Paperback

RRP $24.99

$21.75

13%
OFF

My Brilliant Career

Text Classics

Paperback

RRP $14.95

$14.75

A Farewell to Arms

Paperback

RRP $19.99

$18.75

Of Human Bondage

Vintage Classics

Paperback

RRP $24.99

$17.75

29%
OFF

Howards End

The Penguin English Library

Paperback

RRP $19.99

$18.75

My Brother Jack

A &R Australian Classics

Paperback

RRP $24.99

$21.75

13%
OFF

The Tin Drum

Vintage Classics

Paperback

RRP $19.99

$15.99

20%
OFF

To The Lighthouse : Popular Penguins

Popular Penguins Ser.

Paperback

RRP $14.99

$11.99

20%
OFF

Our Mutual Friend

Wordsworth Classics

Paperback

RRP $12.99

$12.75

The Tenant of Wildfell Hall : Wordsworth Classics - Anne Bronte

$12.75

The History of Tom Jones, A Foundling : Penguin Classics - Henry Fielding

$14.75

Sister Carrie : The Signet Classics - Theodore Dreiser

$17.75

Death Comes for the Archbishop : Virago Modern Classics - Willa Cather

$23.75

Maurice Guest

Text Classics

Paperback

RRP $14.95

$14.75

House of All Nations

Paperback

$65.99

Miles Franklin Award Winners

Cloudstreet

Penguin Australian Classics

Paperback

RRP $24.99

$21.75

13%
OFF

The Yield

Winner of the 2020 Miles Franklin Award

Paperback

RRP $24.99

$21.75

13%
OFF

Chai Time at Cinnamon Gardens

Winner of the 2023 Miles Franklin Literary Award

Paperback

RRP $24.99

$21.75

13%
OFF

Breath

Paperback

RRP $24.99

$21.75

13%
OFF

Truth

Paperback

RRP $23.95

$20.99

12%
OFF

All That I Am

Winner of the Miles Franklin Literary Award 2012

Paperback

RRP $24.99

$21.75

13%
OFF

Shallows

Penguin Modern Classics

Paperback

RRP $24.99

$21.75

13%
OFF

Questions of Travel

Winner of the 2013 Miles Franklin Literary Award

Paperback

RRP $26.99

$22.99

15%
OFF

The Eye of the Sheep

Paperback

RRP $24.99

$21.75

13%
OFF

My Brother Jack

A &R Australian Classics

Paperback

RRP $24.99

$21.75

13%
OFF

Voss

Paperback

RRP $24.99

$21.75

13%
OFF

Bodies of Light

Winner of the 2022 Miles Franklin Literary Award

Paperback

RRP $32.99

$26.75

19%
OFF

Oscar and Lucinda

Paperback

RRP $24.99

$21.75

13%
OFF

The Labyrinth

Winner of the 2021 Miles Franklin Literary Award

Paperback

RRP $29.99

$24.99

17%
OFF

Dirt Music

Paperback

RRP $24.99

$21.75

13%
OFF

The Life to Come

Paperback

RRP $24.99

$21.75

13%
OFF

Dark Palace

Paperback

RRP $24.99

$21.75

13%
OFF

The White Earth

Winner of the 2005 Miles Franklin Literary Award

Paperback

RRP $24.99

$21.75

13%
OFF

That Deadman Dance

Paperback

RRP $22.99

$17.75

23%
OFF

Bliss

Paperback

RRP $24.99

$21.75

13%
OFF

The Great Fire

Winner of the 2004 Miles Franklin Literary Award

Paperback

RRP $22.99

$22.75

The Ballad Of Desmond Kale

Paperback

RRP $24.99

$23.75

The Glass Canoe

Text Classics

Paperback

RRP $14.95

$14.75

The Mango Tree

Imprint classics

Paperback

RRP $24.95

$24.75

Books that Made Us reading list

Cloudstreet

Penguin Australian Classics

Paperback

RRP $24.99

$21.75

13%
OFF

Monkey Grip

Paperback

RRP $22.99

$20.75

10%
OFF

The Secret River

Historical Trilogy

Paperback

RRP $22.99

$20.75

10%
OFF

The Penguin Henry Lawson Short Stories

Penguin Classic

Paperback

RRP $24.99

$21.75

13%
OFF

The Harp in the South Novels

including Poor Man's Orange

Paperback

RRP $29.99

$24.99

17%
OFF

Power Without Glory

Vintage Classics

Paperback

RRP $24.99

$21.75

13%
OFF

The Plains

Text Classics

Paperback

RRP $14.95

$14.75

My Brilliant Career

Text Classics

Paperback

RRP $14.95

$14.75

The Slap

1st Edition

Paperback

RRP $24.99

$21.75

13%
OFF

Questions of Travel

Winner of the 2013 Miles Franklin Literary Award

Paperback

RRP $26.99

$22.99

15%
OFF

My Brother Jack

A &R Australian Classics

Paperback

RRP $24.99

$21.75

13%
OFF

They're a Weird Mob

Text Classics

Paperback

RRP $14.95

$14.75

Voss

Paperback

RRP $24.99

$21.75

13%
OFF

Books that Made Us

The companion to the ABC TV series

Paperback

RRP $34.99

$26.99

23%
OFF

Praise

Paperback

RRP $24.99

$19.99

20%
OFF

Oscar and Lucinda

Paperback

RRP $24.99

$21.75

13%
OFF

Grand Days

Edith Trilogy: Book One

Paperback

RRP $24.99

$23.75

The Fortunes of Richard Mahony

Text Classics

Paperback

RRP $14.95

$14.75

The Timeless Land : A &R Australian Classics - Eleanor Dark

$47.75

Johnno

Modern Classics Ser.

Paperback

RRP $24.99

$23.75

The Chant of Jimmie Blacksmith

A &R Australian Classics

Paperback

RRP $24.99

$23.75

Coonardoo

A &R Australian Classics

Paperback

RRP $24.99

$24.75

Come in Spinner

A &R Australian Classics

Paperback

$29.00

Miles Franklin Award Winner

My Brother Jack

A&R Australian Classics

At a Glance

Paperback

Industry Reviews

Shipping

How to return your order

Defective items

You Can Find This Book In

The A&R Australian Classics Series

Hell West and Crooked

A &R Australian Classics

The Cattle King

A &R Australian Classics

My Brother Jack

A &R Australian Classics

Maestro

A &R Australian Classics

Because a White Man'll Never Do it

A &R Classics

One Crowded Hour

Neil Davis, Combat Cameraman 1934-85

Kenneth Slessor Selected Poems

A &R Australian Classics

People of the Book

A &R Modern Australian Classics

My Brilliant Career & My Career Goes Bung

A &R Australian Classics

The Sundowners

A &R Australian Classics

Capricornia

A &R Australian Classics

No Barrier

A &R Australia Classics

Henry Lawson Selected Stories

A &R Australian Classics

The Timeless Land

A &R Australian Classics

Islands of Angry Ghosts

The Story of the Batavia, Australia's Bloodiest Mutiny

The Chant of Jimmie Blacksmith

A &R Australian Classics

Coonardoo

A &R Australian Classics

My Love Must Wait

A &R Australian Classics

Come in Spinner

A &R Australian Classics

The Battlers

A &R Australian Classics

The Pea-Pickers

A &R Australian Classics

Haxby's Circus

Australian Classics

The Storm of Time

A &R Australian Classics

The Art of the Engine Driver

A &R Australian Classics

50 Must Read Australian Novels

Boy Swallows Universe

Cloudstreet

Penguin Australian Classics

We of the Never-Never

Vintage Classics

Monkey Grip

The Book Thief

The Yield

Winner of the 2020 Miles Franklin Award

The Seven Skins of Esther Wilding

The bestselling uplifting emotional novel from the beloved international author of The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart

The Narrow Road to the Deep North

Carpentaria

The Boat

1st Edition

Truth

The Secret River

Historical Trilogy

Cocaine Blues

Phryne Fisher : Book 1