I've been reading some Australian novelists: Kenneth Cook. His book Wake in Fright portrays some parts of Australia and its culture as pretty brutal - the schoolteacher in a remote town ends up losing all his money in a gambling game; his punishment is to drive around the outback with a bunch of drunks assassinating kangaroos.
And Nevil Shute. Though technically Shute was English, but he emigrated to Australia in the late 40s when Clement Atlee had the cheek to ask him to pay tax on his earnings. Some of his Australian-set novels are stunning; On the Beach is deservedly famous, but Requiem for a Wren is heartbreakingly good.
I think I'm reading about Australia because I've realised I'm never going to get there.