| Review of: | My Dearest Brown Eyes: Letters Between Sir Donald Cleland and Dame Rachel Cleland during World War II edited by Nancy Lutton |
|---|---|
| Reviewed By: | Craig Melrose |
| Reviewed in: | Australian Journal of Politics and History |
| Date accepted online: | 14/01/2008 |
| Published in print: | Volume 53, Issue 03, Pages 465-504 |
Book Reviews
Although Donald and Rachel Cleland are best known for their work in the Territory of Papua and New Guinea (PNG), where Donald was Administrator from 1953 to 1967, this collection of their correspondence covers an earlier period, when wartime separation led the couple to subject themselves and their world to a searching reexamination. It has been edited to emphasise four main themes: the couple's relationship, politics in Australia, political and military developments, and Donald's army career as a staff officer.
The Clelands had a strong and fascinating marriage, as exemplified by their disagreements, which were robust but conducted with respect and affection. For instance, Rachel takes Donald to task in 1940 for overconfidence in Allied strength and overestimation of enemy weakness, a charge he considers calmly but rebuts. She is also severely critical of what she sees as "immaturity" in his character, accusing him of having not developed his political views since his youth. She soon becomes deeply contrite for her "attack", but Donald accepts the censure with grace and sincerely thanks Rachel for trying to improve him.
In regard to Australian politics, the letters show the radical and reforming influences on idealistic nationalists and conservatives during the war. Donald had stood as a Nationalist for the Western Australian parliament before the war, and aspired to a post-war political career (he became chief organiser of the Liberal Party's 1949 election campaign). Both writers agree that new ideas and new leaders must prevail over vested interests and "old outworn ideas", and planning over
The couple's discussions of political and military situations offer a sense of uncertainty about the future which is valuable for historians to keep in mind. Additionally, their analysis showcases Rachel's talent and articulate intelligence, a principal strength of the book. After a few months' correspondence, Donald, realising his wife's "infinite superiority" in matters of geopolitics, asks for instruction from her.
The weakest of the themes concerns Donald's army career. His descriptions of internal staff politicking, within which he was fully immersed, leave the general reader cold. The material on PNG, on the other hand, is of more value, and scholars will find his descriptions of the development of administration there of interest.
The principal themes allow the reader to gain an appreciation of the writers' characters - Rachel was passionate, eloquent and increasingly radical, Donald, solid and calm, yet ambitious. This is one of the book's strengths.
Rachel was by far the better writer, Donald being given to excessive verbosity and tortuous forms of expression, particularly in the first two years of the war. This, coupled with his overemphasis on internal Army matters, means the middle parts of the book are a little slow. He did, however, write with remarkable eloquence and tenderness when signing off letters, and his style improved as the years progressed; when he writes from PNG he is quite readable.
Considering Donald's improving style, his informative letters from PNG, Rachel's well-scripted contributions, and the revelation of the writers' developing relationship and characters,