Prime Minister Julia Gillard and Arts Minister Tony Burke today announced the 2013 Prime Minister’s Literary Awards shortlists.Now in their sixth year, the 2013 shortlists recognise the best in Australian fiction, poetry, non-fiction, history, young adult and children’s fiction published in 2012.
The Prime Minister and Minister commended the quality and diversity of entries, noting the evolving richness of Australia’s literary sector.
2013 also saw the poetry, the newest Award category firmly established, receiving 65 entries, a significant increase on 2012 entries.
A total of $595,000 will be awarded in six Award categories, making the Prime Minister’s Literary Awards the richest literary awards in Australia.
A tax free prize of $80,000 will be awarded to the winner of each of
the award categories. Shortlisted entries receive $5,000 tax free.The 2013 Prime Minister’s Literary Awards shortlists are:
Fiction shortlist
Floundering by Romy Ash
The Chemistry of Tears by Peter Carey
Questions of Travel by Michelle de Kretser
Lost Voices by Christopher KochMateship with Birds by Carrie Tiffany
Poetry shortlist
Burning Rice by Eileen Chong
The Sunlit Zone by Lisa JacobsonJam Tree Gully: Poems by John Kinsella
Liquid Nitrogen byJennifer Maiden
Crimson Crop by Peter Rose
Non-fiction shortlist
Bradman’s War by Malcolm Knox
Uncommon Soldier by Chris Masters
Plein Airs and Graces by Adrian Mitchell
The Australian Moment by George Megalogenis
Bold Palates by Barbara Santich
Prize for Australian History shortlist
The Sex Lives of Australians: A History by Frank Bongiorno
Sandakan byPaul Ham
Gough Whitlam by Jenny Hocking
Farewell, dear people by Ross McMullin
The Censor’s Library by Nicole Moore
More information on the Prime Minister’s Literary Awards can be found at www.arts.gov.au/pmla
