HSC Works

Brief Commentary on Poems Set for HSC Study

Peter Skrzynecki's poems deal with such themes as exile, dispossession, the search for identity and assimilation, and, in the case of "Chronic Ward" with attempted suicides - a poem written after reading Ken Kesey's One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest and having nothing at all to do with the poet's mother.

Since the publication of Immigrant Chronicle Peter Skrzynecki has continued to publish poetry and prose.To date, his work includes eight collections of poetry, two novels, two collections of short stories and the editing of two volumes of contemporary Australian writing. He has also reviewed books and written articles for journals and anthologies.

Reviews of Immigrant Chronicle

Anon., "A Poet", Honi Soit, No.7, April, 1976

John Beston, "Migrant Experience Observed", The Sydney Morning Herald, Saturday, 17 July, 1976, p.17

Julie Carp, "A Poet's Simple Face",Farrago, Friday,19 March, 1976, p.20

Linda Heron, Semper Floreat, 26 February, 1976

Paul Kavanagh, Southerly, No. 4, 1976

Peter Kearney, Togatus, 12 March, 1976

Stephen Magee, Arena 28, April, 1976, p.11

Philip Mead, Arteries in Stone, Canberra Poetry, ANU, 1976

John Murray, Ethnic Studies, Vol.2, No.3, 1977

Satendra Nandan, "Immigrant Blues", Hemisphere, Vol. 21, No.8, August, 1977

Thomas Shapcott, "Another Four Poets in Paperback", Weekend Australian, 17 July, 1976

Carol Treloar, 24 Hours, March, 1976, p.48