Bloke
Bloke
PLEASE NOTE All prices on this website are in US dollars. (RRP $89.95) ISBN 9780980667585
Bloke is set in rural and outback Australia. The book takes us through a day of men in their work locations until dusk, from shearing sheds to cattle yards in the morning to mechanic shops in the midday heat , truck stops and depots in the late afternoon and at sunset, we escape with the men into the cooling bushland for a swim in the river.
Paul revisits themes from both the Outback and Larrikin series, creating a sensual heroic story out of stoicism and camaraderie in the isolation of the vast and lonely outback. To encapsulate some of the romance of the themes, we asked an artificial intelligence program to write a poem in the style of Australian poet, Banjo Patterson, who wrote of men in the outback in the late nineteenth century. Of course the virtual 'poet' was prompted and directed in terms of the books content:
There once was a bloke from farming's domain, with mates who shared labour, a hardworking train. Mechanics they were, on that sprawling estate, amidst old trucks they toiled, early till late.
In the scorching sun's glare, they'd sweat and strive, fixing and tinkering to keep the wheels alive. With shirts soaked in grime, they'd strip down to bare, their muscles exposed, a testament to their care.
Undeterred by the heat, they'd work without rest, bodies glistening with sweat, they were truly blessed. Proudly they posed, in the shimmering haze, their bronzed skin gleaming, basking in the sun's blaze.
But when the day's toil was done and complete, to the local river, their retreat would be sweet. With laughter and splashes, they'd frolic and swim, embracing the coolness, as the day grew dim.
In the water, they'd wrestle, like mates full of zest, their playful camaraderie put to the test. And as the sun set, painting the sky with gold, they'd strum guitars, singing stories untold.
Their bodies were symbols of strength and pride, As they posed and flexed, with confidence beside. For these larrikin mechanics, work and play intertwined, their spirits as vibrant as the sun-soaked Outback combined.
But remember, my friend, as this tale is conveyed, that legends can blur with the truth they've portrayed. So whether real or myth, their essence remains, In the hearts of those who cherish larrikin's refrains.
Bloke has a hard cover with dust jacket, is large formatted at 330mm ( 13”) x 265mm (10 1/2”) x 24mm (1”) and has 160 pages of art stock matte coated gloss paper with over 160 photos. The book comes cling film sealed.
