Which poets have most influenced you?
First encounters sink deep: Shelley, Blake, Hopkins, Yeats. The Revelators in my youth: Rimbaud, Lorca, Hart Crane. The Golden Codgers of middle age: Mallarmé, Emily Dickinson, Lorine Niedecker, Robert Creeley, Robert Duncan, and David Malouf. Life Support: Wallace Stevens and Thomas Traherne. The Diamond-headed hard men of technique: Ezra Pound, Louis Zukof ... (read more)
Hidden Author
Flipping over fiction
Welcome to our annual Fiction issue! In this issue you will find the three shortlisted stories from the ABR Elizabeth Jolley Short Story Prize, as well as other features on fiction, including ten writers nominating their favourite story collections, and Maria Takolander and Mary Cunnane on short fiction and the art of pitching, respectively. Enjoy those cupcakes!
You will a ... (read more)
In the spirit of our annual ‘Books of the Year’ feature, in which we ask a range of writers and critics to nominate their favourite new fiction and non-fiction titles, we asked ten Australian short story writers to nominate their favourite short story collections and individual stories. As this is the first time we have run a short-story themed feature of this nature, our ten writers were free ... (read more)
Why do you write?
When all the parts of a story successfully converge it is very satisfying, much like solving a maths problem.
Are you a vivid dreamer?
I seem to dream more awake than I do asleep. As a child, I often acted out imaginary scenarios, speaking the various parts aloud. Every so often I’ll catch myself doing it again.
Where are you happiest?
Somewhere with sunlight, a mild wind, ... (read more)
Welcome to ABR Arts, home to some of Australia's finest arts journalism. We review film, theatre, opera, dance, music, television, art exhibitions – and more. We have writers around Australia, and we are actively looking for more. Reviews remain open for one week before being paywalled. Read our most recent reviews.
Film
Opera
Theatre
... (read more)
ABR subscribers can read all previous prize-winning and shortlisted poems to the Porter Prize. If you aren't a subscriber, digital subscriptions begin at only $10 per month. Click here to become an ABR subscriber.
2024
Dan Hogan: ‘Workarounds’
Dan Hogan is the winner of the 2024 Peter Porter Poetry Prize, worth a total of $10,000. The winner was named at a virtual ceremony on 23 ... (read more)
Australian Book Review is delighted to announce that Jessica L. Wilkinson has won the 2014 ABR Peter Porter Poetry Prize for her poem ‘Arrival Platform Humlet’. Jessica receives $4,000 for her winning poem, which was drawn from a field of just under 700 entries. The judges were Lisa Gorton and Felicity Plunkett.
‘I am truly honoured that my poem ‘‘Arrival Platform Humlet ... (read more)
ABR Patrons’ Fellowship
Because of the kindness of our many Patrons, we are able to offer another ABR Patrons’ Fellowship, worth $5,000. We are seeking proposals for a major article on any subject. ABR Fellows work closely with Peter Rose, and interested writers are encouraged to speak to the Editor before applying. Applications close on 30 September.
Jolley Prize
Our indefatigable judges a ... (read more)
Just war theory
Dear Editor,
Andrew Alexandra is not persuaded by my defence of war (June–July 2014). I am not persuaded by his attack on it.
First, he compares my ‘permissive’ account of Just War Theory unfavourably with the supposed ‘orthodox’ version, which follows international law in holding that the only just cause for war is a threat to peace, especially aggression. The problem ... (read more)
A NEW WEBSITE FOR ABR
We last redesigned our website in March 2013, and the increase in usage was immediate. But all websites need to evolve, and we realise that the delivery of ABR Online has not been ideal. We have heeded your comments and in June we will launch the new ABR Online.
Happily, the revamped website now hosts a speedier ABR Online. It features a newsy homepage and the contents page ... (read more)