Novel of grief and trauma wins top literary award

A novel that explores a mother’s steps to support her incarcerated son while attempting to make sense of his horrific crime has taken out Australia’s pre-eminent literary prize.

Six books shortlisted for 2021 Miles Franklin prize

The six authors shortlisted for Australia’s richest literary prize each investigate “destructive loss” in their novels.

Tara June Winch, winner of the 2020 Miles Franklin Literary Award.

The Yield: A powerful story of violence and forms of resistance

The winner of the 2020 Miles Franklin award is a powerful and deeply moving book, unstinting in its depiction of socio-political disasters, writes Jen Webb.

Your guide to the 2020 shortlist for Australia's top literary prize

Ahead of the announcement this week of the 2020 Miles Franklin Literary Award winner, cultural theorist Jenn Webb offers a guide to the six shortlisted novels – all of which tackle topics that ‘shimmer with relevance’.

Trauma haunts 2020 Miles Franklin Literary Award shortlist

Trauma casts a long shadow in all six novels shortlisted for Australia’s richest literary prize, with a powerhouse of experienced authors vying for the 2020 Miles Franklin.

Grief, racism and uncertain futures: the 2019 Miles Franklin shortlist

The novels in this year’s Miles Franklin Award shortlist are profoundly empathetic and attuned to contemporary Australia, writes Jen Webb.

Grief, loss and a glimmer of hope: the 2017 Miles Franklin winner

Josephine Wilson’s 2017 Miles Franklin award-winning novel Extinctions nails the key anxieties and preoccupations of today’s society, writes Jen Webb.