Ethel Florence Lindesay Richardson was born into an affluent Melbourne family in 1870. Her father Walter was a doctor of medicine. When Richardson was nine he died of syphilis after being admitted to Melbourne’s Kew mental asylum. His illness and suffering had a huge impact on his family.

After his death, Richardson’s mother took her children...

Germaine Greer is a well-known feminist and writer. Her books include The Female Eunuch, Daddy, We Hardly Knew You, The Change, The Obstacle Race and The Boy. She is professor of English and comparative studies at Warwick University, England.

Germaine wrote the introduction to Henry Handel Richardson’s The Getting of Wisdom.