13. Names galore, and the need for disguise

When we set out to deceive others, we hope also to deceive ourselves, but the two deceptions may have different aims, pointing us, and the others, in different directions.  With this somewhat cryptic statement I start my consideration of the six novels of Brent of Bin Bin, an alias used by Miles Franklin for many years.

Brent was by no means Miles’ only pseudonym.  Many years ago, browsing through a catalogue of her papers about to be sold by Berkelouw, booksellers of NSW, I came across no less than fourteen names she’d given herself.  These included Blake of Bin Bin, Punica Granatum, Plumb Bob, a number of others and, best of all, Mr and Mrs Ogniblat L’Artsau.  (This last, read back to front, gives us Talbingo Austral, a tribute to her grandmother and the favorite place of her early years.)  Talbingo, Australia; I drove through it one day, before I’d read any Miles Franklin books, and was enthralled.  It was the most beautiful place I’d seen.  When my reading of Australian literature connected these impressions with Miles, I understood at least a little of what the place had meant to her.  Why had she made up so many names for herself? [read more]