The merry-go-round in the sea - Randolph Stow

In 1941, Rob Coram is six. The war feels far removed from his world of aunties and cousins and the beautiful, dry landscape of Geraldton in Western Australia. But when his favourite, older cousin, Rick, leaves to join the army, the war takes a step closer.

When Rick returns from the war several years later, he has changed and Rob feels betrayed. The old merry-go-round that represents Rob's dream of utopia (the security of his family and of the land that is his home) begins to disintegrate before his eyes.

(Julian) Randolph Stow was born in Geraldton, Western Australia, in 1935. He lectured in English Literature at the University of Adelaide, the University of Western Australia and University of Leeds. His novel To the Islands won the Miles Franklin Award in 1958. He was awarded the Patrick White Literary Award in 1979. He now lives in England.