| Description |
1 online resource (streaming video file) (26 min. 6 sec.) ; 157314503 bytes |
| Summary |
This week on Talking Heads, Peter Thompson talks to author Blanche d'Alpuget.D'Alpuget's life reads like a colourful novel replete with exotic locations, powerful people and bedroom scenes. To many she's 'the other-woman' who became Bob Hawke's second wife, but as she reveals on Talking Heads her internal journey is a long and deep spiritual one that almost led her to the priesthood.At age 12, d'Alpuget had her 'first affair', with a 54 year-old judge. She now feels she controlled the situation, holding a secret that could have seen the judge facing the gallows. Later, when she and Prime Minister Hawke began seeing each other, both kept the secret that could have meant political ruin. Talking Heads features vision of her very cleverly not revealing the truth about the relationship, talking instead about Hawke's 'emotional fidelity' to his wife.The motifs of men and power recur in her life - a fact d'Alpuget attributes to her father. Blanche was not a boy named Paul, as her father had wished. Nor did she fulfil her father's dream for her to become a marine biologist who would solve global food shortage. Her dad was a journalist and sailor, and he taught his girl to fish, shoot and box. D'Alpuget explains that she had to make a "conscious choice" to be a girl.D'Alpuget says that writing helped her to discover herself, but she feels that spirituality is the cornerstone of her life. She has investigated and read about Hinduism, Islam, Judaism, Jungian theory, re-birthing and more, but Christianity and Christian metaphysics have been her main focus. She insists that what people think of her is unimportant, and that being vulnerable is ultimately what life is about.PRODUCTION DETAILS:Talking Heads is produced by ABC TV. Executive Producer: Margot Phillipson: Series Producer: Daniel Cooper |
| Notes |
Closed captioning in English |
| Event |
Broadcast 2010-09-27 at 03:30:00 |
| Notes |
Classification: G |
| Subject |
Authors, Australian -- Family relationships.
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Conduct of life.
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D'Alpuget, Blanche, 1944-.
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Women authors.
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Women -- Interviews.
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Australia.
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| Form |
Streaming video
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| Author |
D'Alpuget, Blanche, contributor
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Thompson, Peter, host
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