| Robyn Davidson | Tracks |
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| Robyn Davidson | Tracks |
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First published by Jonathan Cape, 1980. UK paperback published by Paladin, 1982 and Vintage, 1992. Extracts included in the companion photobook by Rick Smolan and Robyn Davidson Alice to Ocean, published by Addison-Wesley 1994
Charles Daney's Being and Nakedness site provides information about Robyn Davidson and Tracks - her record of a trek through Australia's Outback. This sounded like an interesting read, and I finally got around to buying a copy.
To my disappointment, while Tracks is an excellent book, and despite Davidson's interesting observations including references to clothing and nudity, there is - in my view - not really any naturism in her clothes-free episodes. Specifically, she goes naked only when there is absolutely no likelihood of anybody being within miles to see her - as you can read in the extracts. Solo nudity can be naturist, when the isolation is at least partly in order to be nude, and when the company of like-minded nuddies would be acceptable. But when someone gets dressed to avoid possible observation, and this is not accompanied by any regrets, it seems no more naturist than would be nudity behind a locked bathroom door or a changing-cubicle.
By all means follow my recommendation and read Tracks, but don't expect any insight into naturism - the only insights related to clothes and nudity are of the textile mindset.
Leaving naturism aside for a moment, it's worth pointing out that Davidsond does have significant things to say about herself, about Australians (both aboriginal and those whose recent ancestors were not Australian), camels, solitude, relationships between humans and animals, "getting away from things", tourism, exploitation, photography, sponsorship and a host of other topics. I can heartily recommend the story in all its forms: original book, audiobook, photobook and CD.
| Nudity | Naturist nudity | A good read? |
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Last updated 2005 November 3.
Images Copyright © various authors, photographers, graphic artists, illustrators and publishers
Other content Copyright © author Tim Forcer
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