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The Long Shadow

First edition
Author	Jon Cleary
Language	English
Genre	Thriller
Publisher	Invincible Press
Publication date	1949
Publication place	Australia

The Long Shadow is a 1949 novel from Australian author Jon Cleary.

Cleary had just written his debut work, You Can't See 'Round Corners and was unsure what to do as a follow-up. His editor Graham Greene suggested he try his hand at a thriller "because it will teach you the art of narrative and it will teach you the uses of brevity."

Plot

The plot revolves around Martin Brown, an educated man who is living as a swagman. He is falsely accused of murder of a woman called Ruth Taylor, and is pursued through the Australian countryside by police and other men. He falls in love with a woman who believes his innocence.

Reception

Reviews were not as strong as that for Cleary's first novel.

Proposed film

Reportedly Paramount were interested in the film rights in 1946.

In 1968 it was announced that a movie version was to be made starring Rod Taylor for Ajax Films from a script by James Workman but no film resulted.

References

1. "The Long Shadow by Jon Cleary". National Library of Australia. Retrieved 23 May 2024.
2. Jon Cleary interview, The Book Show - Radio National, 26 February 2006
3. "SOME NEW FICTION". The Examiner. Launceston, Tasmania. 7 January 1950. p. 12. Retrieved 6 March 2012 – via National Library of Australia.
4. "New interpreters of Australasian scene". The Argus. Melbourne. 28 January 1950. p. 12. Retrieved 6 March 2012 – via National Library of Australia.
5. "SOME NEW FICTION". The Examiner. Launceston, Tasmania. 7 January 1950. p. 12. Retrieved 18 October 2015 – via National Library of Australia.
6. "CLEARY HEARD NEWS IN LONDON". The Sydney Morning Herald. No. 34, 014. New South Wales, Australia. 28 December 1946. p. 7. Retrieved 2 April 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
7. Jon Cleary Interviewed by Stephen Vagg: Oral History at National Film and Sound Archive
8. 'Rod Taylor weighs offers for 5 Pix in Native Land', Variety, 21 Nov 1968
9. "LEISURE THE ARTS US visitor sees big film future for us". The Canberra Times. 14 December 1967. p. 30. Retrieved 18 October 2015 – via National Library of Australia.
10. Hall, Sandra (15 February 1969). "Who's filming what". The Bulletin. p. 42.

See also

• The Long Shadow at AustLit (subscription required)
• 1949 in Australian literature

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