Billy Hayes is glad in the air. Miss Jane reviews ‘a big life’ by Susan Johnson

“He looks out over the grass, over the sky, over the world, and sees a boy rolling, glad in the air, waiting for the future to reach him”.

This warm and moving novel explores the inner workings of Billy Hayes, Tumbler Extraordinaire.

Set in the 1920’s it follows the life of William Sly Hayes from his birth into a lively household with numerous siblings, a vivacious mother and restraining but well meaning Aunt.

But Billy’s life is broken by the return of a war-changed father. His father’s hate propels Billy through his life. It feeds his insecurity, it nurtures his ambition. It is in his desperation to escape the persecution of his father that Billy finds tumbling and meaning in his life.

Billy Hayes wants to make his mark on the world, to show them all that tumbling is a liberation, a joy and a life. And so from behind his crimsoned shy face Billy haphazardly pursues his career in England in the 1930’s and 1940’s, performs for the King, falls in love, marries, adopts a stage name and persona to match; and searches his soul.

Susan Johnson, born in Sydney in 1956, began her career as a journalist; having written for the Women’s Weekly, the Sydney Morning Herald and the National Times. She now writes full time having published Messages from Chaos and Flying Lessons.

Johnson wrote a big life whilst on a fellowship from the Literature Board of the Australia Council. The result is a delightful, moving and motivating work which has the reader barracking for Billy as he makes his way through his big life.