Well of Life

Well of Life is Roderic Anderson’s memoir up to age 18. Born into affluence until when he is four, his artist father becomes unemployed and the family have to survive the Great Depression on the little he makes from private commissions. At school Rod becomes interested in left wing politics and at puberty realizes he is gay but is scared to reveal his true feelings. While still at school he has sexual affairs with three men and he joins the Royal Australian Air Force in 1943.