The Boys Who Stole the Funeral

The Boys Who Stole the Funeral is a verse novel written by renowned Australian poet Les Murray, published in 1980. The work consists of 140 sonnets that form a complete narrative. Two young men take the body of their deceased friend from a city morgue to fulfill his wish for a burial in the countryside. Their journey becomes a meditation on Australian identity, rural traditions, and the relationship between the living and the dead. The novel gained recognition upon release, winning the Grace Leven Prize for Poetry in 1980. Murray's innovative format combines classical sonnet structure with Australian vernacular speech and modern storytelling techniques. This work explores the tensions between urban and rural Australia, while examining deeper questions about mortality, friendship, and the sacred nature of final wishes. The novel stands as a significant achievement in both Australian literature and the verse novel form.

Readers describe this book of sonnets as challenging but rewarding. Several note the unique structure and Australian cultural elements require multiple readings to fully grasp. Readers appreciate: - The technical mastery of connected sonnets - Rich rural Australian imagery and language - Exploration of cultural tensions - Innovative approach to narrative poetry Common criticisms: - Dense and difficult to follow on first read - Cultural references that non-Australian readers struggle with - Limited availability/out of print status Ratings: Goodreads: 4.0/5 (30 ratings) One reviewer on Australian Poetry Library called it "a triumph of sustained poetic storytelling." Another on Goodreads noted "you have to work at it, but the payoff is worth the effort." The book has limited reviews online due to its relatively small print runs and specialized poetic format. Most discussion appears in academic contexts rather than consumer review sites.

All That I Am by Anna Funder The story follows political activists who steal a body from Nazi Germany to provide a proper burial, weaving themes of mortality and final wishes through historical events.

Cloudstreet by Tim Winton A saga of two rural Australian families explores the connection between land, identity, and tradition through interconnected narratives spanning decades.

The Nargun and the Stars by Patricia Wrightson This tale merges Aboriginal mythology with modern Australia, presenting a journey through rural landscapes that echoes Murray's exploration of Australian identity.

The Tree of Man by Patrick White The novel traces a man's connection to rural Australian land through generations, reflecting similar themes of territorial belonging and cultural heritage.

The Sound of One Hand Clapping by Richard Flanagan A story of Slovenian immigrants in Tasmania presents themes of displacement and belonging in rural Australia, mirroring Murray's examination of cultural identity.

📚 The sonnets in the book follow a strict 14-line structure, but Murray ingeniously varies the rhyme schemes to create different emotional effects throughout the narrative. 🌿 Les Murray grew up in poverty on a dairy farm in Bunyah, New South Wales, which deeply influenced his understanding of rural Australian life depicted in the book. 🏺 The story draws inspiration from ancient burial customs and the Aboriginal Australian tradition of "bringing them home" - returning the deceased to their ancestral lands. 📖 Published in 1980, this was one of the first contemporary verse novels in Australian literature, helping to revive interest in the genre. 🎭 The book sparked controversy upon release for its critique of urban Australian society and what Murray perceived as its disconnection from traditional values and the land.