Beyond the Rock

An exploration of the life of Joan Lindsay, the author of the novel, The Picnic at Hanging Rock, the novel, and movie adaptation. The synchronicities and coincidences in the life of the author, the probable mysteries the story was based on, and the open ended nature of the story has remained with me for 45 years. This book does not resolve the mystery of what happened to the girls of Appleyard College or its real life equivalent, but it is a satisfying investigation into why the book was written and film adaptation made. Primarily it is a description of the extraordinary woman who may have lived the mystery, dreamt of the story, put it to paper, and oversaw its film adaptation in a small way. Well worth the time of the fan of the novel and/or the movie.