The Window Seat, by Archie Weller

 

​Nineteen intricate and nuanced stories about the experiences of First Nations Australians.

Western Australian writer Archie Weller has published novels, poetry and short stories. His novel The Day of the Dog was made into the film Blackfellas. His 2009 short story collection, The Window Seat, is here republished as part of the First Nations Classics series.

Weller is a versatile writer and the 19 stories presented here cover many styles and genres, from mystery and crime to dystopian, futuristic themes. For the most part, Weller's fiction examines the difficulties of growing up mixed-race and Aboriginal: the prejudice, low expectations and bullying by police. There are also stories that explore Indigenous culture and spirituality.

While Weller often describes the brutal facts of life for First Nations people – violence, stints in jail, wrongful arrest, racism – his evocations of land, wildlife  and country are beautiful and ornate. Weller also has a good ear for dialogue which brings his characters vividly to life. These are stories firmly rooted in personal experience, providing a unique perspective on Australian life.

A special mention must go to the collection's title story "The Window Seat", which rivals Guy de Maupassant's "Boule de Suif" for its brilliance at exposing hypocrisy and moral vacuity. An elderly Aboriginal woman is taking a final bus ride home, but the white man who must sit next to her is full of resentment and racist thoughts. When he later discovers something about the woman, his smug moral universe is turned upside down.

A fine collection that explores a side of Australia rarely seen.

The Window Seat, by Archie Weller. Published by Queensland University Press. $19.99

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