Arts & literature, Ask a librarian, Victorian history:
Mary Fortune was the author of the longest running 19th-century crime fiction series published in a periodical and one of the earliest female crime writers in the world.
Ask a librarian, Victorian history:
Last year marked the 75th anniversary of the publication in Melbourne of a novel compared by some to Leo Tolstoy’s ‘War and Peace’, and described as ‘a lost masterpiece’. The novel in question, ‘Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow’, was by M. Barnard Eldershaw, the pseudonym adopted by Marjorie Barnard (1897-1987) and Flora Eldershaw (1897-1956) in a remarkable literary partnership that produced novels, short stories, literary criticism, essays and lectures.
Ask a librarian, Our stories, Victorian history:
For more than half a century, Vance and Nettie Palmer stood as beacons in the Australian literary landscape. In 1985, on the centenary of their births, the Victorian government established the annual Premier’s Literary Awards in their honour. Of particular note to us at the State Library is that it was here that Vance and Nettie first met.
Ask a librarian, Collection spotlights:
Fascinated by literature? Want to find out more about Australia and explore the rich and diverse literature of Oceania? Then dive into Australasian literature online!
Ask a librarian, Collection spotlights:
Science fiction often focuses on the outward exploration of space and new worlds. In contrast, Australian science fiction writing is dominated by dystopic settings, featuring characters alienated from society. This blog post highlights some of the best Australian SF in the Library’s collection.
Ask a librarian, Collection spotlights, Our stories:
The Victorian literary community has lost one of its own, with the death of much-loved poet, performance artist and creative writing teacher, Ania Walwicz
Collection Care, Preservation, Such was life:
A photograph of an old cottage inspires an investigation into the connections between Australian author Adam Lindsay Gordon, John Kinmont Moir and the mysterious Adam & Eve Hotel.
News:
The award-winning Indigenous novelist Alexis Wright has been appointed as the Boisbouvier Chair in Australian Literature at the University of Melbourne.
Kate Baker’s autograph book bears witness to her passionate advocacy for Australian literature. Manuscripts librarian Sandra Burt tells us more.
