Cloudstreet, by Winton, is a saga following the life paths of two struggling families sharing accommodation in a gloomy house but living separate lives. Sagas are not, however, confined to family life; Cloudstreet is also a historical novel in its detailed evocation of Western Australian society through two turbulent decades after World War II. Notwithstanding, Cloudstreet has epic qualities which dislocates it from the particularities of time and setting. Responders are able to sense Winton's …showed first 75 words of 1245 total…

…showed last 75 words of 1245 total…quality; conveying a celebration of the feast and humanity. Consequently it seem that Cloudstreet can be read in two different ways. Cloudstreet is a historical novel in its detailed evocation of Western Australian society in the post war period. However, it is equally valid if other responders perceived the novel as a celebration of humanity as it moves out of the domain of the particularities of time and setting into values intrinsic to human life.