The Cupboard Under the Stairs

First edition
Author	George Turner
Country	Australia
Language	English
Publisher	Cassell, Australia
Publication date	1962
Media type	Print (Hardback)
Pages	214pp
Preceded by	A Stranger and Afraid
Followed by	A Waste of Shame

The Cupboard Under the Stairs is a Miles Franklin Award-winning novel by Australian author George Turner.^[1] This novel shared the award with The Well Dressed Explorer by Thea Astley.^[2]

It is the second novel in the author's "Treelake" series.^[3]

Synopsis

The novel tells the story of Harry White, who attempts to rebuild his life after spending six years in a mental institution.

Critical reception

A writer in The Canberra Times noted: "In this, his third novel,George Turner tells an absorbing and often frightening story, technically mature an psychologically satisfying. and his concern for the human condition is both perceptive and compasionate."^[4]

Lisa Hill on the ANZLitLovers Litblog concluded: "The evangelical tone goes into overdrive with the characterisation of Jimmy, whose stoic championing of Harry leads even to the break-up of his relationship because he won’t tolerate prejudice against mental illness. He makes a huge social and financial investment in Harry, which would be questionable in any circumstances with a near-stranger. But Turner was trying to make the point that a man ought to be able to make a fresh start without having all his attempts sabotaged by ignorance and fear. Back in the 1960s, that was an idea that had a long way to go before gaining any kind of acceptance."^[5]

Notes

The novel carries the following dedication: "To Betty and Lindsay Bloomfield for one reason and another".

The author added the following note: "Kilkalla is not modelled on any existing branch of the Department of Mental Hygiene. To eliminate such confusion I have employed only generalized statements as to the detailed nature of the work carried on there, emphasizing only that it is experimental."

References