The Copyright Agency’s Cultural Fund, alongside Perpetual, the trustee of Australia’s most prestigious literary awards, have announced the five talented authors who have been included in the 2022 Miles Franklin Literary Award Shortlist.
The Miles Franklin Literary Award was established by prolific author and feminist Stella Maria Sarah Miles Franklin, now best known for her first novel My Brilliant Career.
First presented in 1957, the Award celebrates novels of the highest literary merit that tell stories about Australian life. The award remains Australia’s most prestigious and valued literary award.
The 2022 Miles Franklin Literary Award shortlist is:
- The Other Half of You by Michael Mohammed Ahmad (Hachette Australia)
- Scary Monsters by Michelle de Kretser (Allen & Unwin)
- Bodies of Light by Jennifer Down (Text Publishing)
- One Hundred Days by Alice Pung (Black Inc. Books)
- Grimmish by Michael Winkler (Puncher and Wattmann)
This year the shortlist includes an author of a self-published title, a past Miles Franklin winner and three established authors. They will be competing for one of the most prestigious literary prizes in Australia, with the winner receiving $60,000.
“The outstanding feature of this year’s Miles Franklin shortlist is the range of dynamic and diverse voices that address the experience of pain, intergenerational trauma and intergenerational dialogue with compassion, exceptional craft and rigorous unsentimentality.” said Richard Neville, State Library of NSW Mitchell Librarian and Chair of the judging panel.
Joining Mr Neville on the judging panel is author and literary critic, Dr Bernadette Brennan; literary scholar, Dr Mridula Nath Chakraborty; book critic, Dr James Ley; and author and editor, Dr Elfie Shiosaki.
“This year’s Miles Franklin Literary Award shortlist showcases some of our most talented and respected writers whose vibrant voices inspire and challenge our views of Australian life,” said Copyright Agency’s CEO, Josephine Johnston.
“We welcome the opportunity to celebrate the immense breadth of literary endeavour and our unique stories. Congratulations to all the shortlisted writers!”
Each of the 2022 shortlisted authors will receive $5,000 from the Copyright Agency’s Cultural Fund. The 2022 winner will be announced on 20 July. For more information, visit: www.milesfranklin.com.au for details.
Image: The Miles Franklin Literary Award 2022 Shortlist (supplied)