Language English Media type Paperback ISBN 0-670-81103-3 Genre Novel OCLC 14407342 | Publication date 1986 Pages 176 Originally published 1986 Page count 176 Country Australia | |
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Publisher Viking Press, Australia Similar Mr Scobie's riddle, Miss Peabody's inheritance, The Sugar Mother, The Georges' wife, My father's moon | ||
The Well is a Miles Franklin Award-winning novel by Australian author Elizabeth Jolley. It tells the story of two women, Hester and her young ward Katherine, and their relationship with one another. Hester, who has lived alone on a farm with her father for many years, is possessive of the much younger Katherine. The relationship between the two women becomes strained after an incident where Katherine hits a mysterious creature with the roo bar on their four-wheel drive. It is left unclear whether the creature is an animal or an intruder who has stolen a large sum of money from the house. When Katherine begins to hear voices from the well and becomes racked with guilt, Hester goes to extreme measures to maintain her influence over her young ward.
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In 1997 a film of the same name was adapted from this novel. The film was directed by Samantha Lang, from a screenplay by Laura Jones and featured Pamela Rabe and Miranda Otto.