New Australian literary history launched

New Australian literary history launched

University of Queensland Vice-Chancellor Professor John Hay will launch the Oxford Literary History of Australia at Wordsmiths, the writer's cafe, at Staff House Road, St Lucia on Monday, October 19 at 5.30pm.

Director of the University's Australian Studies Centre Dr Richard Nile said the new book, edited by Bruce Bennett and Jenny Strauss, was the first major Australian literary history since the Penguin Literary History edited by former Centre director Professor Laurie Hergenhan a decade ago.

The new literary history features chapters by 16 authors, including six chapters from Queensland.

"This is a national recognition of the quality of literary studies in the State," Dr Nile said.

University of Queensland English Department staff members have authored three chapters. Dr Nile has written: Literary democracy and the politics of reputation; Associate Professor Carole Ferrier, Fiction in Transition; and Professor Graeme Turner, Film, Television and Literature: Competing for the Nation.

At the function Professor Turner will be awarded the $1000 Barrett prize named after Melbourne intellectual John Barrett for the most outstanding essay in the area of Australian studies through the Australian public intellectual network.

The book launch is sponsored by the Australian Studies Centre and the Journal of
Australian Studies.

Media Contact: Dr Nile telephone 07 3365 1369; a/h 07 3878 4593.