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Canberra Today 12°/16° | Saturday, March 30, 2024 | Digital Edition | Crossword & Sudoku

Grenville makes Miles Franklin longlist

“SARAH Thornhill”, the novel of local author Kate Grenville has made the longlist for Australia’s oldest and most prestigious literary prize, the Miles Franklin Literary Award.

“Sarah Thornhill” is a “coming-of-age” story for main character Sarah and Australia as a nation; and explores the legacy of white settlement has left for the indigenous population.

Also making the list is Frank Moorhouse’s novel “Cold Light”, set in 1950s Canberra and follows Edith, who has plans to become Australia’s first female ambassador. Moorhouse has spent time in Canberra researching for his literary work.

The longlist of 13 novels will be cut down to a shortlist in May with the winner announced of the $50,000 prize in June.

Speaking on behalf of the judging panel, Australian Research Council professorial fellow at the University of Queensland Prof Gillian Whitlock said former winners, literary legends and emerging stars from across Australia were included in one of the longest lists in the 58 year history of the prize.

“The 2012 list reflects the strength of historical fiction in the contemporary novel,” Prof Whitlock said.

“Entries this year include the third and final novels in the historical trilogies by Frank Moorhouse and Kate Grenville, fictional historical biographies by Steven Carroll, Anna Funder and Alex Miller and fictional narratives of World War II by Mark Dapin and Elliot Perlman.

“These, along with the haunting contemporary novels by Tony Birch, Charlotte Wood, Virginia Duigan, Gail Jones and Favel Parrett, make for a very tight 2012 contest.”

This year The Trust Company will be taking the Miles Franklin Literary Award on the road to Perth for an Oration with last year’s winner Kim Scott, and to Canberra for the shortlist events in late May to further promote Australian literature nationally.

More information at www.milesfranklin.com.au 

 

[box] 2012 Miles Franklin Literary Award longlist: 

Tony Birch “Blood”

Steven Carroll “The Spirit of Progress”

Mark Dapin “Spirit House”

Virginia Duigan “The Precipice”

Anna Funder “All That I Am”

Kate Grenville “Sarah Thornhill”

Gail Jones “Five Bells”

Gillian Mears “Foal’s Bread”

Alex Miller “Autumn Laing”

Frank Moorhouse “Cold Light”

Favel Parrett “Past the Shallows”

Elliot Perlman “The Street Sweeper”

Charlotte Wood “Animal People” [/box]

 

 


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