''The Eye of the Storm'' is the ninth published novel by the Australian novelist and 1973 Nobel Prize-winner,

Patrick White Patrick Victor Martindale White (28 May 1912 – 30 September 1990) was an Australian novelist and playwright who explored themes of religious experience, personal identity and the conflict between visionary individuals and a materialistic, co ...

. It tells the story of Elizabeth Hunter, the powerful matriarch of her family, who still maintains a destructive iron grip on those who come to say farewell to her in her final moments upon her deathbed. It is regarded as one of White's best novels, largely owing to the reputation it received from the

Swedish Academy The Swedish Academy (), founded in 1786 by King Gustav III, is one of the Royal Academies of Sweden. Its 18 members, who are elected for life, comprise the highest Swedish language authority. Outside Scandinavia, it is best known as the body t ...

when they specifically named it as the book that confirmed White's designation as a Literature Laureate.Lundkvist, Artur
The Nobel Prize in Literature 1973: Presentation Speech
''Nobel Lectures, Literature: 1968-1980.'' Eds. Tore Frängsmyr and Sture Allén. Singapore: World Scientific Publishing Company.

Film adaptation

A film adaptation directed by

Fred Schepisi Frederic Alan Schepisi ( ;Pauline Kael, Kael, Pauline (1984). ''Taking It All In''. New York: Holt, Rinehart and Winston. p. 55. born 26 December 1939) is an Australian film director, producer, and screenwriter. His credits include ''The Cha ...

and starring

Charlotte Rampling Tessa Charlotte Rampling (born 5 February 1946) is an English actress. An icon of the Swinging London, Swinging Sixties, she began her career as a model. She was cast in the role of Meredith in the 1966 film ''Georgy Girl'', which starred Lynn ...

as Elizabeth Hunter and

Geoffrey Rush Geoffrey Roy Rush (born 6 July 1951) is an Australian actor. Known for often playing eccentric roles on both stage and screen, he has received List of awards and nominations received by Geoffrey Rush, numerous accolades, including an Academy Aw ...

and

Judy Davis Judith Davis (born 23 April 1955) is an Australian actress. In a career spanning over four decades of both List of Judy Davis performances, screen and stage, she has been commended for her versatility and regarded as one of the finest actresses ...

as Elizabeth's children Basil and Dorothy was released in September 2011.

References

External links

Excerpts from the novel
at the ABC's "Why Bother With Patrick White?" archive.

at the ABC's "Why Bother With Patrick White?" archive. 1973 Australian novels Novels by Patrick White Novels set in Sydney Jonathan Cape books {{1970s-novel-stub