Olive Muriel Pink: Her radical and idealistic life: A poetic journey

With a meticulously researched absorbing verse narrative Colleen Keating brings Olive Muriel Pinks significant neglected history to life with distinctive beautiful imagery. In powerful lyrical stanzas she tells the story of Olives struggle for recognition as a female anthropologist her lifelong work for the rights of the Warlpiri and Arrernte people she loved and lived among and the creation of her arid garden. High on a camel swaying to and fro / with a straight back and a broad smile / Olive rides into her future. Olives persistence her triumphs and her passion for justice make for uplifting and compelling reading. - Pip GriffinOlive Pink is one of Australias unsung heroines. In this original and deeply moving biographical verse novel Colleen Keating enables Olive Pinks experiences with Aboriginal people in Central Australia to emerge with sensitivity intellectual curiosity understanding and grace. It is a triumph for reconciliation and will surely enter the annals of Australian literature. - Lyndall RyanA play a dance books a proposed film an opera and now a wonderful narrative poem by Colleen Keating. I wonder what Miss Pink would think about all this attention - her battles and passions appreciated at last! - Gillian WardOlive Pinks life floats off the page - very much the character Ive come to know and admire while translating her experience into music across this past decade. Colleen Keating gives us a seriously beautiful work based on research that brings Olive vividly to life. It is wonderful to see the astonishing story of this Australian woman Olive Pink given the attention she so deserves. Such a visionary. - Anne BoydAn invaluable and powerful addition to the story of Australian women who lived their lives working for equality and social justice. A joy to read. - Elizabeth Keating-Jones