The Boy Behind the Curtain is an essay collection that serves as a collage of author Tim Winton's life. Winton's essays are filled with recollections of his childhood and his relationships with the Australian landscape and its people, from his obsession with guns and his first trip to the movies to his visits to a nature reserve and a hospital. Winton's reflections on his experiences demonstrate a deep appreciation of the power of creativity and the need for change, with connections to his family, faith, country, and the natural world woven throughout the collection.
Tim Winton recalls visits to a sheep station, his father's decommissioning of his grandfather's car, his aversion to church, and swimming to a reef. He also discusses his adult experiences, including his efforts to protect Ningaloo Reef, his time at Leap Castle, his encounters with humpback whales and sharks, and his visits to the National Gallery of Victoria.
"Chasing Giants" follows Winton and his wife as they paddle out to find a pod of humpback whales. Winton frequently chases the whales for hours without catching them—this time, however, they encircle him, and he marvels at their collective intelligence.
"Havoc: A Life in Accidents" begins with a young Winton witnessing a motorcycle crash and the chaos that ensues when his father attempts to assist the rider. Winton's fear is a hangover from when his father was critically injured in a motorcycle accident a few years before; the incident changed the course of Winton's life. Winton in the present day connects these incidents by implying that danger has been a constant in his life. Danger will find him no matter what. And, as a writer, he understands that danger fuels his stories, just as it did his father's career as a cop.
Winton is particularly sensitive to the influence of the Australian landscape and the socio-political implications of his experiences throughout the collection. He considers the power of creativity, Australia's penchant for villainizing sharks and people's indifference when sharks are mistreated, and the need to confront class boundaries to promote social equality. Finally, the collection of essays serves as a reminder of the importance of considering the past to comprehend the present.
