Miles Franklin & Maria Montessori

My Diaries

Fame has its ups and downs. I found fame with my novel „My Brilliant Career“and later wrote „My Career Goes Bung“ and other works. I thought I was onto something of the suffragette ilk since I was hanging out in Amerika with trade unionists in Chicago and then published newsletters for the Australia First Movement. Maybe I shouldn’t have been so vocal – a gal has to think of what can happen – so I set up a couple of literary prizes still in action today – the Miles Franklin and the Stella. But I never should have started my diaries; they were hidden away and have now been published, even made into a play. And they’ve blown my cover…lucky I never had kids the way mum wanted…

The Road Trip

„I must go to Italy and find out more about this Maria Montessori.“

„We have no time, sir,“ said Alvin, his loyal chauffeur. „You have to respond to the President about the Chancellorship.“

„Dammit!“ Dollfuss said. „Then take me to St Sulpice. I shall stay the night and hope my prayers bring me succor.“

„And answers,“ said Alvin.

The next morning.

„I have my answer, Alvin. Back to Vienna. I will tell the President that I accept the Chancellorship. And then we will go to Rome.“

Alvin sighed. Why not straight away, he thought. It’s what he wants. Next he‘ll be conferring with Mussolini, and that will mean more road trips. What have I got myself into? Always listening, always nodding. Yes sir, of course sir, congratulations sir.