If I were to sum up this book in one callous sentence, I'd write 'ugly Australian girl has a shit life as a skivvy in the outback.' Hailed as an early example of feminist literature, My Brilliant Career is a sardonically titled account of a young woman's attempt to live life on her own terms within the harsh, soul destroying conditions of rural New South Wales in the 1890s. Although set a long time ago, the language seems relatively modern, so I originally imagined it to be set much later. Sybylla Melvyn is the eldest daughter of a wealthy cattle rancher who falls on hard times after a disastrous career decision. Sunk from an esteemed and elevated circle into impoverished conditions, she dreams of a better life more in line with her artistic aspirations. Sent to live with her grandmother, she once again experiences gentility, and in her improved surroundings meets the affluent Harold Beecham, who offers his hand in marriage.
Sybylla is not like other 19th century heroines though! She is a wild tomboy who no man can control. She is also constantly reprimanding herself for being ugly, which while not exactly a novel concept (The Woman in White also features an ugly heroine in Marian), it was unconventional for a romantic lead. Sybylla strings along her love interest, plays with his emotions and ultimately rejects him because she thinks she can do better. Unfortunately, her life takes a turn for the worse when she is forced to become governess to a squalid peasant household. Considering Miles was only a teenager when she wrote the book, it is excellently written, with a very visceral sense of place. I've never read such vivid descriptions of the oppressive Australian landscape, and it really felt like I was there in the heat, dust and monotonous grind of farmlife. The tale is horrifying in its claustrophic and stultifying descriptions of poverty and servitude, and I couldn't look away.
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