Something for the Pain : A Memoir of the Turf

Something for the Pain : A Memoir of the Turf
ISBN: 9781925355437
Publication Date: 3 January 2017

As a boy, Gerald Murnane became obsessed with horse racing. He had never ridden a horse, nor seen a race. Yet he was fascinated by photos of horse races in the Sporting Globe, and by the incantation of horses' names in radio broadcasts of races. Murnane discovered in these races more than he could find in religion or philosophy- they were the gateway to a world of imagination. Gerald Murnane is like no other writer, and Something for the Pain is like no other Murnane book.

In this unique and spellbinding memoir, he tells the story of his life through the lens of horse racing. It is candid, droll and moving-a treat for lovers of literature and of the turf.

About the Author

Gerald Murnane was born in Melbourne in 1939. He has been a primary teacher, an editor and a university lecturer. His debut novel, Tamarisk Row (1974), was followed by nine other works of fiction, including The Plains (now available as a Text Classic) and most recently A Million Windows. In 1999 Murnane won the Patrick White Award and in 2009 he won the Melbourne Prize for Literature. His memoir Something for the Pain won the 2016 Victorian Premier's Award for non-fiction.

He lives in western Victoria.