by Marissa Price

We are all visitors to this time, this place. We are just passing through. Our purpose here is to observe, to learn, to grow, to love… and then we return home. – Indigenous Australian Proverb.

Australian literature is as varied as the country itself. Australia is a melting pot of cultures and backgrounds that lends itself to great storytelling. The traditional custodians of the land, the many Australian indigenous tribes, passed down their stories through cave carvings and yarning circles. The Dreamtime is a sacred indigenous story that tells the origins of the universe. It is the beginning of knowledge and it contains the great stories of past tribal elders.

Despite the abundance of information available about Australia and the droves of tourists we host from all over the world each year, we remain a largely mysterious and often misunderstood nation. Our literature – the works of our authors, poets and playwrights – can often go unnoticed compared to the latest Hollywood blockbusters. As an Australian author and reader, I have the privilege of being among a cohort of wonderful artists who call our beautiful country home. I am predisposed to consider a range of Australian writers for my ‘to be read’ list that might otherwise go unnoticed and I wanted to share a selection of my insights with you.

Some of the more well-known Australian authors, such as Miles Franklin (My Brilliant Career), Thomas Keneally (Schindler’s Ark), Colin Thiele (Storm Boy), A.B Facey (A Fortunate Life), Melina Marchetta (Looking for Alibrandi), John Marsden (Tomorrow When the War Began), Mem Fox (Possum Magic), Liane Moriarty (Little Lies) and Bryce Courtenay (The Power of One) are already well known on an international scale. Their writing is synonymous with great Australian story-telling. Then there are the new generation of social commentary and women’s fiction writers, including Holly Wainwright, Mia Freedman and the sometimes notorious Constance Hall who have offered their thoughts on living as women in contemporary Australia. Their works span fiction and non-fiction, novels and short stories, but each offers a unique perspective on modern femininity.

Below are some very successful, but perhaps less internationally acclaimed, Australian authors: a list of ‘must read’ Australian authors whom you might not normally consider, if you will.

Tim Winton

Tim Winton is revered in Australia for his creative genius and willingness to change the conversation. He has won the Miles Franklin Award (one of Australia’s most prestigious writing awards) four times, and he has been named a Living Treasure by the National Trust. Winton’s writing is perhaps most distinguishable because he challenges the narrative around what traditional masculinity should look like. Dr. Jules Smith for the British Council wrote about Winton:

“His books are boisterous and lyrical by turns. . . They have a wonderful feeling for the strange beauty of Australia; are frequently flavoured with Aussie vernacular expressions, and a good deal of emotional directness. . .  His books are full of strong women and troubled men, and are prepared to risk their realist credibility with enigmatic, even visionary endings.”

Winton himself did not expect to become a national treasure. He never intended for his books to reach more than a thousand people, yet they have resonated with an audience far wider than Winton could have imagined. Winton’s works, especially Lockie Leonard, are studied by many an Australian school child for their depictions of ordinary life in contemporary Australia. Winton’s new novel, The Shepherd’s Hut, is scheduled for release on March 12, 2018.

Stephanie Laurens

Stephanie Laurens is a best-selling author of historical romance, and although she doesn’t write about Australian content, she is a much loved Australian writer. Laurens was born in Sri Lanka and moved to Melbourne when she was five, becoming an Australian citizen and earning a PhD in Biochemistry.

Laurens went on to work as a research scientist in Kent, where she lived in a small cottage steeped in 16th century history. Laurens ultimately returned to Australia to continue her research into cancer prevention, where she also began writing romance novels. After achieving a degree of success, Laurens retired from research and became a full time novelist.

The body of work attributed to Stephanie Laurens is too great to list here, though if you are a lover of regency romance, Laurens is your woman. Perhaps the greatest strength for Laurens is her style of writing. Each new novel links into the last. The great families in the upper echelons of British society are intertwined with generation after generation of well born and connected aristocrats involved in engaging and exciting plot lines. Her newest offering, The Designs of Lord Randolph Cavanaugh, is slated for release on April 24, 2018.

Anh Do

Anh Do, the loveable, cheeky refugee from Vietnam, wears many hats.

An actor, comedian, author and artist, Anh Do has funny and serious sides in equal measure and an uncanny ability to connect with just about any audience. His main work, The Happiest Refugee, is a humorous story about integrating into Australian culture, and it offers a fascinating insight into what is was like to be a Vietnamese refugee in 1970s Australia.

Do has been slated by some as the next A.B Facey. An autobiographical writer and a World War I veteran, A.B Facey’s work is considered to be the pinnacle of writing about human experience.

Such a comparison is a huge accolade for any author. Anh goes from strength to strength and his unique blend of humour and humility is endearing and quintessentially Australian.  

 

Kate Grenville

Kate Grenville is one of Australia’s best-known authors who has begun to enjoy international acclaim. Her portfolio includes nine books of fiction, including the best-seller The Secret River. The Idea of Perfection, The Lieutenant and Lilian’s Story have won many awards, both in Australia and the UK.

Grenville’s The Secret River is a novel about the colonisation of Australia – the good, the bad and the ugly. Narrated through the voice of a British convict, the brutality and harshness of colonial Australian are clearly illustrated. Importantly, both the opinions and prejudices of British Australians and Indigenous Australians are touched upon, providing a heart wrenching depiction of early Australian life.

Grenville’s writing is a must read for those interested in the early days of Australia and the battles of colonization that we still face today.

Shaun Tan

Last,  but certainly not least, is the wonderful Shaun Tan. Although perhaps a somewhat unusual inclusion, Tan’s picture books and graphic novels are brilliant for visual literacy and learning. Raised in the northern suburbs of Perth, Western Australia, Tan became known among his peers as the ‘good drawer’ which he says partly “compensated for always being the shortest kid in every class”.

When studying Tan’s works, the reader is encouraged to come to their own conclusions about what each drawing might mean. This forces the reader to engage more deeply with the messages that Tan wishes to convey, which often center around human emotions and how they are expressed in everyday life. His book, The Arrival, it an essential piece of Australian literature.

Perhaps, this article has taught you a little about Australian literature. Perhaps, it has given you insight into the stories that we hold dear. Hopefully, maybe…even just one of these fabulous writers might make it into your “to be read” pile.

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Marissa Price is an Australian school teacher who also runs The Literature Factory, which helps Australian children with literacy, reading and writing. The Lit Factory runs tutoring sessions and workshops, as well as publishing several Australian authors including Marissa and Nicole Bonnelli Madeley. Each publication has its own educational value, making them perfect for the Lit Factory imprint.

Marissa’s book series, Into the Abyss, currently has two books available. Vault of Verona and Scourge of Scotland follow the story of Harriet Hunter, a young Tasmanian woman who discovers that she is able to travel back into the stories of the greatest literary giant the world has ever known – Shakespeare. Harriet runs rampant in Verona during the time of Romeo and Juliet, tasked with the job of stopping the ticking time bomb that will be a double suicide. Her story continues in Scotland with Macbeth’s ambition providing the catalyst for a collision that will change the course of history for generations to come.

For more information on the Into the Abyss series or The Literature Factory, visit www.theliteraturefactory.com.au.