THE VISIT by Amy Witting

Published in late 1977 The Visit was described as a 'minor masterpiece'. Critics were quick to pick up on the fact that a 'new important author' had emerged and to pinpoint the hall-marks of Witting's style - economical, evocative description, well-judged sharpness and sensitivity to the human condition.

Set in the country town of Bangoree (Kempsey in northern NSW, in fact) Witting's story reveals the 'private and public lives of the country-town teacher/librarian/doctor set ... their desires and frustrations ... friendships, rivalry and love'. Balancing this is the mystery of the long-dead poet Fitzallan and the woman who inspired his work. Witting supplies 'his' poems and they are the first indication of the finely crafted poems that came later.