Diksia.com - Have you ever wondered what happened to the three schoolgirls and their teacher who vanished on a picnic at Hanging Rock in 1900? If so, you’re not alone. This intriguing mystery has captivated readers and viewers for over half a century, thanks to the novel by Joan Lindsay and the film adaptation by Peter Weir. In this article, we’ll explore the novel’s plot, themes, and legacy, and tell you where you can read it online.
Introduction
Picnic at Hanging Rock is a classic Australian novel that blends historical fiction, mystery, and horror. It was first published in 1967 by Joan Lindsay, who claimed it was based on a dream she had. The novel tells the story of a group of students and teachers from Appleyard College, a girls’ boarding school, who go on a picnic at the nearby Hanging Rock, a volcanic formation, on Valentine’s Day in 1900. During the picnic, four of them – Miranda, Irma, Marion, and Miss McCraw – decide to explore the rock, but they never return. The novel follows the aftermath of their disappearance, as the search for them becomes a national obsession, and the lives of those involved are changed forever.
Novel Details
- Title: Picnic at Hanging Rock
- Author: Joan Lindsay
- Genres: Classics, Fiction, Mystery, Historical Fiction, Horror
- Chapter: 18 (plus a final chapter that was removed by the publisher and later published separately as The Secret of Hanging Rock)
- Language: English
- Publisher: Penguin Classics
- Rating: 3.67 out of 5 stars on Goodreads
Synopsis
The novel begins with a description of the idyllic setting and the preparations for the picnic. The students and teachers are excited to spend a day in nature, away from the strict rules and routines of the school. Among them are Miranda, a beautiful and charismatic girl who is admired by everyone; Irma, a wealthy and spoiled heiress; Marion, a clever and ambitious scholar; and Miss McCraw, a stern and rational mathematics teacher. They are accompanied by Mrs. Appleyard, the headmistress and owner of the school; Miss de Poitiers, a French teacher; Miss Lumley, a junior teacher; and Edith, a younger and timid student.
The picnic goes well until the afternoon, when Miranda, Irma, Marion, and Miss McCraw ask for permission to climb the rock. They are followed by Edith, who soon becomes scared and runs back to the others. She tells them that she saw the four disappear behind a rock, and that something terrible happened. A search party is organized, but they find no trace of the missing four. The only clue is a torn piece of lace that belongs to Miss McCraw.
The next day, the police and the media arrive at the scene, and the mystery becomes a sensation. Many theories and rumors circulate, ranging from abduction to murder to supernatural phenomena. The search continues for weeks, but no evidence is found. Meanwhile, the school suffers from the scandal and the loss of reputation. Many parents withdraw their daughters from the school, and some of the staff resign or die under mysterious circumstances. Mrs. Appleyard becomes increasingly paranoid and unstable, and blames herself for the tragedy.
The only survivor of the picnic is found by a young Englishman named Michael Fitzhubert, who was staying at a nearby hotel and became obsessed with Miranda after seeing her at the rock. He decides to join the search, and after wandering for days, he discovers Irma unconscious but alive near the top of the rock. He brings her back to the hotel, where she recovers from her ordeal. However, she has no memory of what happened to her or the others, and refuses to talk about it. She also rejects Michael’s romantic advances, as she is still haunted by Miranda’s image.
The novel ends with a shocking twist, as Mrs. Appleyard commits suicide by jumping off a cliff, after learning that her school is bankrupt and that her past is about to be exposed. Before she dies, she receives a letter from a former employee, who reveals that she saw Miss McCraw on the road, wearing only a skirt and a pair of boots, and acting strangely. The letter suggests that Miss McCraw was the mastermind behind the disappearance, and that she somehow lured the others into the rock, where they met their fate.
Where To Read Novel Picnic at Hanging Rock
If you are interested in reading this novel, you can find it online at Project Gutenberg Australia, where it is available for free download. You can also buy a copy from Amazon or Book Depository, or borrow it from your local library.
Conclusion
Picnic at Hanging Rock is a novel that will keep you guessing and wondering until the end. It is a masterpiece of suspense, atmosphere, and symbolism, that explores the themes of nature, civilization, sexuality, and identity. It is also a fascinating portrait of the Australian society and culture at the turn of the century, and the contrast between the colonial and the indigenous. Whether you believe it is fact or fiction, you will not forget this novel and its haunting mystery.
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