The Songlines
First edition | |
| Author | Bruce Chatwin |
|---|---|
| Language | English |
| Publisher | Franklin Press |
Publication date | 1987 |
| Publication place | United Kingdom |
| Media type | Print (Hardback & Paperback) |
The Songlines is a 1987 book written by British novelist and travel writer Bruce Chatwin about the songs of Aboriginal Australians and their connections to nomadic travel. A roman à clef that combines novel, travelogue, and memoir, Chatwin blends elements of fiction and non-fiction to describe a trip to Australia's Northern Territory in search of a better understanding of Aboriginal culture and religion, the Aboriginal land rights movement, and the Australian Outback more generally. The book is Chatwin's most famous work, a best seller upon publication in both the United States and United Kingdom.