an astonishing and most original first novel

The first thing one notices about this novel is the most unlikely title, Everyman's Rules for Scientific Living (Picador). The cover is pretty unusual too, but totally appropriate as it turns out.

Because author Carrie Tiffany is speaking at the Auckland Writers and Readers Festival '07 next month, along with the fact that the novel, her first, was shortlisted for the Orange Broadband Fiction Prize I was very keen to read it. And I'm pleased to say I was not disappointed.

Set in the years 1934-1940, and thus taking in the Depression and the beginning of World War Two, this is the story of an unlikely couple who buy land in the impoverished Mallee region of Australia with the aim of proving that a scientific approach to growing wheat will transform the sandy land into a profitable farming venture.

The story opens with the "Better Farming Train", an unusual 1930's government initiative (taken from history) to bring knowledge to farmers by way of a group of scientific experts travelling around Australia by train. Entire towns would turn out to meet the train and to attend the courses and lectures provided.

The story is narrated in the present tense by Jean, a highly talented seamstress, one of the three women on the train who are there to provide tuition to the farmers wives. On the train she meets Robert Pettergree, a soil expert, and they become an unlikely pair, leaving the train to marry and become farmers.

This may not sound promising but I was captivated by the author's superb depiction of the tough country life in drought stricken times and by the marvellous characterisation skills she displays. The two protagonists along with Mary Maloney, lecturer in cooking, Sister Crock who deals with "women's subjects" and Mr.Ohno, the Japanese chicken sexer are all well portrayed and believable.

I'm looking forward to "An Hour with Carrie Tiffany" at 5.00pm on Saturday 26 May at the Festival. She is also one of five writers featured in "Friday Night with the Stars" at 8.00pm on Friday 25 May. All events are being held at the Aotea Centre.

For more visit http://www.writersfestival.co.nz

Postscript- This footnote appears on the back endpaper :

Notes on the typeface- The typeface used in the text throughout this book is New Caledonia (c.1938). The sans serif heads are set in Metro Black (c.1929). Both typefaces were designed by the American typographer William Addison Dwiggins !1880-1956).

I admire publishers who go to this degree of care with selection of typeface and then provide readers with the information. I might add that in my opinion they made a perfect choice of typeface, it feels very 1930's to me.

Final note - author pic from www.theblurb.com.au , a website I recommend for Australian arts and entertainment.