The Greatest Liar on Earth explained

The Greatest Liar on Earth is a 1945 Australian biography by Frank Clune about the fabulist Louis de Rougemont.

It was the first biography on de Rougemont.[1] Clune had previously written about him in his 1938 book Free and Easy Land.[2] [3]

Reception

The book was one of three short books by Clune issued in 1945, others being Starlight and Forlorn Hope. The Herald said "Each of the tales is Informative and diverting. All are marred, however, by overdoses of "slapstick". With Frank Clune. a name is a "monniker," a face is a "flzzog," and so on. He could easily retain his breezincss without using so much cheap slang in historical stories."[4]

The Courier Mail said "Mr. Clune must have quarried very deeply into musty old records to present a record so complete and detailed."[5]

The Morning Bulletin said "On the whole, Mr Clune seems ambitiously to have claimed overmuch, in his title for this prevaricator, and to have overlooked the claims thereto of some of our land settlement politicians."[6]

The Age said "Clune tells the story of this engaging and somewhat pathetic rascal with -great gusto, and makes a fascinating story of it."[7]

Notes and References

  1. B. G. Andrews, 'de Rougemont, Louis (1847–1921)', Australian Dictionary of Biography, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, https://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/de-rougemont-louis-5961/text10171, published first in hardcopy 1981, accessed online 17 April 2024.
  2. News: GOSSIP IN FREE AND EASY . . 1640 . Queensland, Australia . 3 December 1938 . 17 April 2024 . 6 . National Library of Australia.
  3. News: "FREE AND EASY LAND" . . 6542 . New South Wales, Australia . 3 December 1938 . 17 April 2024 . 5 . National Library of Australia.
  4. News: Seven Leaders Of Britain's Battles On The Seas . The Herald . 21,350 . Victoria, Australia . 22 October 1945 . 17 April 2024 . 8 . National Library of Australia.
  5. News: Four New Books Of Australiana . . 2829 . Queensland, Australia . 15 December 1945 . 17 April 2024 . 4 . National Library of Australia.
  6. News: BOOKS RECEIVED . . 26,377 . Queensland, Australia . 21 December 1945 . 17 April 2024 . 8 . National Library of Australia.
  7. News: Books of the Day--Cont. . . 28294 . Victoria, Australia . 29 December 1945 . 17 April 2024 . 9 . National Library of Australia.