Book launch: Salt Upon the Water

Description

You're invited to the State Library for the much-anticipated launch of Lyn Dickens’ debut novel, Salt Upon the Water, published by Wakefield Press.

Winner of the '2024 ArtsSA Unpublished Manuscript Award' at the South Australian Literary Awards, Dickens’ striking first novel is already making waves, and this is your chance to be part of its very first chapter.

Poet and writer Gemma Parker will officially launch the novel in the Treasures Wall. 

'Resonant and lyrical, Salt Upon the Water celebrates the emergence of a powerful new voice in Australian literature.' 
~ Hossein Asgari, writer and academic

About the book

1836. On the edge of empire, a woman arrives to claim her past. And her future.

Clarissa FitzRoy, a spirited woman of mixed heritage, has crossed oceans to confront Colonel William Light, the Surveyor-General of South Australia. Bound by a shared history of dispossession by the British East India Company and haunted by secrets, Clarissa and Light must grapple with truths neither is prepared to face.

Set against the stark beauty of the South Australian coast, Salt Upon the Water is a powerful story of love, identity, and resistance. As Clarissa seeks connection with her Asian family and Light is forced to confront his complicity in colonial violence, both are caught in a tide of prejudice, race, and power that will shape the course of their lives.

Sweeping from the pleasure gardens of London to the canals of Venice, the streets of Calcutta to the island of Penang, Lyn Dickens' award-winning novel blends magical realism with historical depth, offering a luminous reimagining of Australia's past. A groundbreaking, poetic debut, this is a story of reckoning, resilience, and the courage to reclaim one's voice.

FAQs

How do I get to the State Library by public transport?

The 'State Library, Art Gallery, Museum' tram-stop is just outside the State Library. There are bus stops close by, near the War Memorial on North Terrace. The closest train station is the Adelaide city station on North Terrace.

You can plan your journey via Adelaide Metro.

Is there car parking near the State Library?

The nearest car park is Wilson's Adelaide Central car park, 225 North Terrace, next to David Jones.

There is paid (metered) street parking along Kintore Ave and Victoria Drive.

Where is the wheelchair and stroller access?

Access to the Spence Wing first floor and the Mortlock Chamber is via the lift in the glass foyer entrance of the library.

There is on-street disabled parking available on the nearby roads. View more information and maps of Adelaide City Council's Disability parking for permit holders.

How do I check if the Mortlock Chamber is open when I plan to visit?

The Mortlock Chamber may close for private events, check our opening hours for any closure times.

When it is open you can visit the Mortlock Chamber on the ground floor to look at the exhibition bays.  The upper levels of the Mortlock Wing include  study areas.

Is there a cafe at the State Library?

Yes, the State Library Cafe is open Monday to Friday from 8am to 4pm and Saturdays from 12 to 4pm.

Find out more about the cafe and resident organisations at the State Library.