Fire Fire

The Houdini family escape from the great world to a dilapidated and isolated residence in the bush near the fictional town of Toggenberg, where Acantia Houdini the artist hopes her seven children and famous violist husband can become self-sufficient as artists, musicians and poets. All is not, however, home grown spinach and classical music. The children become increasingly feral; Acantia more and more eccentric; and the isolated family is befriended by the languid, honey-voiced and furry-eared Count Ugolini who has an eye for teenagers of either sex.

A story rich in music, art, poetry built on a central theme of the escape from the explosive nuclear family.

• Year of Publication: 2004
• Genre: Literature
• Audience: Adult