Gabrielle Carey

Background

Carey was born in Sydney and was raised in an atheist, humanist household.

Career

This novel was the first teenage novel published in Australia that was written by teenagers. While in Ireland in the mid-1980s she converted to the Catholic faith, becoming convinced of the importance of spirituality in everyday life. After a year in Ireland she left and for several years lived in a small village in Mexico, returning to Australia in the early 1990s.

She lives in Sydney and is a freelance writer, writing occasional articles for The Sydney Morning Herald and other newspapers.

She currently works as a lecturer in writing at the University of Technology, Sydney. Carey and Lette met as teenagers at the age of 12 while still at school and became best friends.

Both left school early (Carey at 15 and Lette a year later) against the wishes of their families. Leaving home, they shared a flat together and wrote, which was based on real events.

They also wrote a column for the Sydney "Sun Herald", under the name "The Salami Sisters".

The novel shocked many people by its graphic description of teenage behaviour. Once the book was published Carey and Lette separated and their lives moved in different directions. In 1981 a film version of the novel was made, directed by Bruce Beresford.

A film version of Carey"s autobiographical book, Just Us, an account of her relationship with Parramatta Gaol prisoner, Terry Haley, also was made in 1986.

lieutenant was directed by Gordon Glenn from a screenplay by Ted Roberts.

Works

More photos

• book

  • The borrowed girl

    (Book by Carey, Gabrielle)