Australian Gothic

‘An enthralling biography of Tucker: a portrait by turns social and intellectual, psychological and emotional … The tale she unfolds is gripping and relentless: it offers a sharp vision not just of Tucker and his work, but of his milieu and his times; it has, for almost all his lengthy course, a splendid balance, integrating the artist’s own reflections and the reminiscences of his circle, holding up key paintings and publications as mirrors of the man.’ Nicolas Rothwell, Australian

‘… is a genuine masterpiece … the most closely textured account of any Australian artist’s life I have ever read. Australian writers have received this attention but this is the first time I’ve read a biography of an artist [that] gets into their skin … I thought I knew Tucker’s art backwards but it has given me a whole new way of looking at it.’ Patrick McCaughey

‘A life of Albert Tucker presented crisply, coherently and fairly. It’s a measure of Burke’s success in reconstructing the man and his motives that, about a third of the way in, when a passage opens with the phrase, “But Bert being Bert …” the reader nods knowingly, as if listening to familiar gossip on a recalcitrant uncle.’ Chris McAuliffe, Age

‘… a damn good read. Burke paints a vivid picture of the art scene as experienced at ground level by someone not just living through but shaping important artistic events. The story is skilfully told, the writing is pacy amd history is artfully interpreted.’ Christopher Heathcote, Sydney Morning Herald

‘… as biography it leaps the fence and enters the richly engaging domain of memoir and cultural history … Australian Gothic is not only the deeply absorbing story of a gifted and troubled man, it is also a disturbingly suggestive examination on a personal level of the darker side of our culture … a complex and disturbing work that breaks new ground in the writing of Australian art biography.’ Alex Miller

‘… a complex and passionate book, a landmark in both Australian biography and art writing.’ Tom Carment, HQ

‘A meticulously documented, scholarly account of Tucker’s life … intelligent, racy and readable.’ Sasha Grishin, Canberra Times

‘… an intimate and digressive portrait not just of a significant figure in Australian art but also the febrile, feuding, driven and passionate world of a vanished Melbourne bohemia.’ Shane Maloney