{"id":3708,"date":"2020-07-07T12:29:11","date_gmt":"2020-07-07T01:59:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.wakefieldpress.com.au\/blog\/?p=3708"},"modified":"2020-07-07T12:29:11","modified_gmt":"2020-07-07T01:59:11","slug":"behind-book-anne-black-george-isaacs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.wakefieldpress.com.au\/blog\/2020\/07\/behind-book-anne-black-george-isaacs\/","title":{"rendered":"BEHIND THE BOOK: Anne Black on George Isaacs"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Anne<\/a><\/h1>\n

In a new series on the Wakefield Press blog, we’ve asked authors to write about the background, inspiration, research and work that goes into writing a book.<\/h1>\n

This week features Anne Black, author of\u00a0Pendragon: The life of George Isaacs, Colonial wordsmith<\/a>.<\/em>\u00a0Anne writes about her first encounter with little-known literary icon George Isaacs, and the death certificate that sparked an obsession and a biography.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Penning Pendragon<\/em>, or, the evolution of a biography<\/strong><\/h1>\n

Pendragon<\/em> is extreme family history. I confess my obsession. Sadly, I know little of my \"Pendragon,<\/a>husband\u2019s other thirty-one great-great-great grandparents as my interest lies exclusively in the intriguing George Isaacs. From the moment I spied the words \u2018literary correspondent\u2019 on his 1876 death certificate I was smitten. And then, as the writer Samuel Lover wrote, \u2018when once the itch of literature comes over a man\u2019 \u2013 or woman in this case \u2013 \u2018nothing can cure it but the scratching of a pen\u2019.<\/p>\n

Initially I had no plans to write a biography of Isaacs, I just enjoyed the research. As I came across each new tidbit of information about him I added it to a chronological essay. By the time that document reached 40,000 words I required a mentor!\u00a0Soon, I found myself a postgrad student in the supportive Department of English and Creative Writing at the University of Adelaide. I was so fortunate to have wise Dr Phil Butterss (winner of the 2015 National Biography Award for his excellent book on C.J. Dennis) as my supervisor. A PhD followed. I loved every minute.<\/p>\n

Why George Isaacs? <\/strong><\/h1>\n

Isaacs\u2019 distinctive alias \u2018A. Pendragon\u2019 does not prick the modern Australian consciousness, and he is not listed in the Australian Dictionary of Biography. But he deserves a biography.<\/p>\n