Sofie Laguna has been announced as the winner of the 2015 Miles Franklin Literary Award for her novel, The Eye Of The Sheep.
Published by Allen & Unwin, Laguna’s novel has been judged as being ‘of the highest literary merit’ and presents ‘Australian Life in any of its phases’ in accordance with Miles Franklin’s guidelines for the Award, and will receive $60,000 in prize money.
Commenting on behalf of the judging panel, State Library of New South Wales Mitchell Librarian, Richard Neville, commented that “the power of this finely crafted novel lies in its raw, high-energy, coruscating language which is the world of young Jimmy Flick, who sees everything. The Eye Of The Sheep is an extraordinary novel about love and anger, and how sometimes there is little between them.”
Sofie originally studied to be a lawyer, but after deciding law was not for her, she trained as an actor. She is now an author, actor and playwright. Her books for young people have been named Honour Books and Notable Books in the Children’s Book Council of Australia Book of the Year Awards and have been shortlisted in the Queensland Premier’s Awards.
Sofie’s first novel One Foot Wrong received rave reviews, sold all over the world and was long-listed for the Miles Franklin Award and shortlisted for the Prime Minister’s Literary Award. The Eye Of The Sheep is Laguna’s second novel for adults and her first to be shortlisted for the Miles Franklin award.
For more information, visit: www.milesfranklin.com.au for details.
Image: The Eye Of The Sheep