The Fern Tattoo

infobox Book |
name = The Fern Tattoo
title_orig =
translator =


image_caption =
author = David Brooks
illustrator =
cover_artist =
country = Australia
language = English
series =
genre = Novel
publisher = University of Queensland Press, Australia
release_date = 2007
english_release_date =
media_type = Print (Paperback)
pages = 374 pp
isbn = ISBN 9780702236266
preceded_by =
followed_by =

"The Fern Tattoo" is a 2007 novel by the Australian author David Brooks.

Dedication

"To my daughter Jessica"

Plot summary

Benedict's mother has recently died, after the funeral he receives a phone call from Mrs. Darling a friend of his mothers. Benedict visits the old woman in the countryside where she tells him various tales that involve three generations of families. He spends the next several years visiting Mrs. Darling rearranging his personal plans so he can visit her more often. One day he receives a phone call the Mrs. Darling is dying. He finally learns that the stories she has been telling him have been about his own family.cite web |url=http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,22869264-5003900,00.html |title=Faced with lies that ring true | The Australian |author= Kevin Rabalais|authorlink= |coauthors= |date= 2007-12-08|format= |work= |publisher= |pages= |language= |archiveurl= http://www.webcitation.org/5b94yKE4G|archivedate= 2008-09-27|quote= |accessdate=2008-09-27]

Epigraph

Yes, man is broad, too broad indeed. I'd have him narrower. - Dmitri Fyodorovitch Karamazov: "The Brothers Karamazov", Fyodor Dostoevsky

Awards

*Miles Franklin Literary Award, 2008: shortlistedcite web |url=http://bega.yourguide.com.au/news/local/news/general/council-news-in-brief/1276930.aspx |title=Council NEWS in brief - Local News - News - General - Bega District News |author= |authorlink= |coauthors= |date= 2008-09-19|format= |work= |publisher= |pages= |language= |archiveurl= http://www.webcitation.org/5b93VH7uJ|archivedate= 2008-09-27|quote= |accessdate=2008-09-27] cite web |url=http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,,23558188-16947,00.html |title=Outsider in mix for Ozlit top gong | The Australian |author= Lauren Wilson|authorlink= |coauthors= |date= 2008-04-18|format= |work= |publisher= |pages= |language= |archiveurl= http://www.webcitation.org/5b93ihf0j|archivedate= 2008-09-27|quote= |accessdate=2008-09-27]

Notes