"Then about 1951 I began writing again, painfully, a novel I called in the beginning A Life Sentence on Earth, but which developed into The Tree of Man"
- Patrick White
About this Quote
This quote by Patrick White is describing his composing career. In 1951, he began writing once again after a period of inactivity. He began composing an unique which he at first called A Life Sentence in the world, but it eventually became The Tree of Man. This novel was published in 1955 and is considered one of White's most important works. It is a story about a household living in rural Australia and their battles to find meaning in life. The book is seen as a reflection of White's own life and his search for meaning. It is a powerful and moving story that has actually resonated with readers for years. White's quote is a testament to his commitment to his craft and his ability to develop meaningful works of literature.
"Tomorrow is the most important thing in life. Comes into us at midnight very clean. It's perfect when it arrives and it puts itself in our hands. It hopes we've learned something from yesterday"