TheNational Biography Award,established in Australia in 1996, is awarded for the best published work of biographical or autobiographical writing by an Australian. It aims "to encourage the highest standards of writingbiographyandautobiographyand to promote public interest in those genres ".[1]It was initially awarded every two years, but from 2002 it has been awarded annually. Its administration was taken over by theState Library of New South Walesin 1998.
History of the Award
editIt was originally endowed by private benefactor, Dr. Geoffrey Cains, and the original prize money was $12,500. In 2002, Cains said of endowing the award that "I wanted to give back to literature something, it had given me so much; besides, philanthropy in this country is so overlooked and diminished".[2]In 2005, the prize money was increased to $20,000 with the support ofMichael Crouch.[3]Belinda Hutchinson,former President of the Library Council of NSW, expressed gratitude for this increase to "an award that celebrates the Australian psyche through distinguished biography writing."[3]
In 2012 the prize money for the Award has been increased to $25,000. Since 2013, each shortlisted author receives $1,000.[4]The judging panel varies from year to year. In 2018 the Michael Crouch Award was introduced for an Australian writer's first published biography.[5]
The shortlist is announced in early July each year, followed by the winner announcement in early August.
Winners
edit- 2024:Lamisse Hamouda forThe Shape of Dust: a father wrongly imprisoned. A daughter's quest to free him[6][5]
- 2023:Ann-Marie Priest forMy Tongue Is My Own: A Life of Gwen Harwood[7]
- 2022:Bernadette BrennanforLeaping into Waterfalls: The Enigmatic Gillian Mears[8][9]
- 2021:Cassandra PybusforTruganini: Journey Through the Apocalypse[10][11]
- 2020:Patrick Mullins forTiberius with a Telephone: The Life and Stories of William McMahon[12][13]
- 2019:Behrouz BoochaniforNo Friend But the Mountains: Writing from Manus Prison[14]
- 2018:Judith BrettforThe Enigmatic Mr Deakin[15]
- 2017:Tom D C RobertsforBefore Rupert: Keith Murdoch and the Birth of a Dynasty[16][17]
- 2016:Brenda NiallforMannix[18][19]
- 2015:Philip Butterss forAn Unsentimental Bloke: The Life and Work of C J Dennis[20]
- 2014:Alison Alexander forThe Ambitions of Jane Franklin: Victorian Lady Adventurer[21]
- 2013:Peter Fitzpatrick forThe Two Frank Thrings[22]
- 2012:Martin ThomasforThe Many Worlds of R. H. Mathews: In Search of an Australian Anthropologist[23]
- 2011:Alasdair McGregorforGrand Obsessions: The Life and Work of Walter Burley Griffin and Marion Mahony Griffin[24]
- 2010:Brian MatthewsforManning Clark: A Life[24]
- 2009:Ann Blainey forI am Melba[24]
- 2008:Joint winners[24]
- Philip DwyerforNapoleon, 1769-1799: The Path to Power
- Graham Seal forThese Few Lines: A Convict Story – The Lost Lives of Myra and William Sykes
- 2007:Jacob RosenbergforEast of Time[24]
- 2006:John HughesforThe Idea of Home[24]
- 2005:Robert Hillman forThe Boy in the Green Suit[24]
- 2004:Barry HillforBroken Song: T.G.H. Strehlow and Aboriginal Possession[24]
- 2003:Joint winners[24]
- Peter RoseforRose Boys
- Don WatsonforRecollections of a Bleeding Heart: a Portrait of Paul Keating PM
- 2002:Jacqueline KentforA Certain Style: Beatrice Davis, a Literary Life[24]
- 2000:Joint winners[24]
- Peter RobbforM, a biography of European painter Caravaggio
- Mandy SayerforDreamtime Alice: a Memoir
- 1998:Roberta SykesforSnake Cradle[24]
- 1996:Abraham Biderman forThe World of My Past[24]
National Biography Award Lecture
editIn 2003, the National Biography Award lecture was instituted. It is associated with the award, and was also sponsored by Cains and Crouch. It is given annually, but takes place during the same week as the announcement of the winner.[1]
- 2018:Unauthorised,by Tom D C Roberts[25]
- 2017:A tale finds its teller: writing the biography of Thea Astley,by Karen Lamb[26]
- 2016:For better or worse: The relationship between biographer and subject,by Philip Butterss[27]
- 2015:Biography and me: notes on the wonders of others (and some on self),byKim Williams AM[28]
- 2014:Based on a true story,byLinda Jaivin[29]
- 2013:A different perspective, a shared story,byJohn Elder Robison[30]
- 2012:Looking for ElizabyEvelyn Juers[31]
- 2011:Recollections of a Bleeding Heart: A Portrait of Paul Keating PM,byDon Watson
- 2010:Biography: The Art of the Impossible,byHilary McPhee AO
- 2009:‘Truth’ as applied to biography and autobiography,byRaimond Gaita
- 2008:Biography, Autobiography and Memoir: Presidential Bests and Worsts,byBob Carr[32]
- 2007:Biography: The Impossible Art,byInga Clendinnen[33]
- 2006:Materials for Life: The Enduring Value of Biography,byRobyn Archer
- 2005:Personal Drama: David Williamson on Self-depiction,byDavid Williamson
- 2004:The Observed of all Observers: Biography in Poetry,byPeter Porter (poet)
- 2003:Goethe's Two Left Feet: Reflections on the Hazards and Liberties of Biography,byPeter Rose (writer)
References
edit- ^abState Library of New South Wales
- ^Angela Bennie. They're six of the best. Sydney Morning Herald, 1 March 2002
- ^abState Library of New South Wales (2005)
- ^"National Biography Award - About the award".Retrieved7 June2017.
- ^ab"National Biography Award"(PDF).SL Magazine.11(3): 6. Spring 2018.
- ^"National Biography Award".State Library of New South Wales.
- ^"National Biography Award".State Library of NSW.2020-05-21.Retrieved2023-08-09.
- ^"National Biography Award".State Library of NSW.
- ^"Leaping into Waterfalls: The Enigma tic Gillian Mears (Bernadette Brennan, A&U)".Books + Publishing.Retrieved24 August2022.
- ^"Truganini".State Library of New South Wales.Retrieved26 August2021.
- ^"National Biography Award winner's announced on ABC Sydney".ABC Radio.2021-08-05.Retrieved2021-08-26.
- ^"'Tiberius with a Telephone' wins National Biography Award ".Books+Publishing.2020-08-31.Retrieved2020-10-27.
- ^"Tiberius with a Telephone: The life and stories of William McMahon".State Library of New South Wales.Archivedfrom the original on 18 August 2021.Retrieved24 August2021.
- ^"'Impassioned letter' from Manus Island wins 2019 National Biography Award ".State Library of NSW.2019-08-12.Retrieved2019-08-12.
- ^Convery, Stephanie (2018-08-06)."Judith Brett wins National Biography award for 'profound' look at life of Alfred Deakin".the Guardian.Retrieved2018-08-06.
- ^Romei, Stephen (1 August 2017)."Keith Murdoch biography nets award for Tom DC Roberts".The Australian.Retrieved16 August2017.
- ^"National Biography Award"(PDF).SL Magazine.10(3): 6. Spring 2017.
- ^"'Mannix' wins 2016 National Biography Award | Books+Publishing ".Books and Publishing.Retrieved9 August2016.
- ^"2016 - National Biography Award".State Library of NSW.Retrieved9 August2016.
- ^"National Biography Award 2015 Winner".State Library of New South Wales.Retrieved6 July2016.
- ^Begley, Patrick (4 August 2014)."Alison Alexander wins National Biography Award for The Ambitions of Jane Franklin".Sydney Morning Herald.Retrieved27 June2015.
- ^Steger, Jason (5 August 2013)."Frank Thring double bill wins biography award".Sydney Morning Herald.Retrieved7 August2013.
- ^"Dr Martin Thomas wins 2012 National Biography Award".Australian National University.Retrieved22 July2013.
- ^abcdefghijklm""National Biography Award – Past Winners"".State Library of NSW.Retrieved22 March2024.
- ^"National Biography Award Lecture: 'Unauthorised' with Tom DC Roberts".State Library of NSW.2018-06-06.Retrieved2018-08-06.
- ^"ACU author to give the Annual Lecture in Biography".Newsroom.No. 27 July 2017. Australian Catholic University.Retrieved5 March2018.
- ^"National Biography Award Lecture 2016".State Library of New South Wales.Retrieved7 June2017.
- ^"Lecture by Kim Williams AM as part of the National Biography Award Lecture Series".State Library of NSW.Retrieved7 June2017.
- ^"National Biography Award Lecture 2014".Retrieved7 June2017.
- ^"2013 National Biography Award Lecture John Elder Robison - A different perspective, a shared story".Archived fromthe originalon 29 July 2013.Retrieved22 July2013.
- ^"National Biography Award Lecture: Looking For Eliza".History Council NSW. Archived fromthe originalon 13 May 2013.Retrieved22 July2013.
- ^National Biography Award Lecture 2008
- ^Inga Clendinnen on the impossibility of biography
External links
edit- Bennie, Angela (2005) "Award draws people with a tale to tell" inThe Sydney Morning Herald,23 February 2005
- Bennie, Angela (2002) "They're six of the best" inThe Sydney Morning Herald,1 March 2002
- "Inga Clendinnen on the impossibility of biography" (lecture), on ABC Radio NationalThe Book Show,2007-11-09Accessed: 2007-11-09
- Knox, Malcolm (2003) 'Dual winners in Biography Prize's latest chapter' inThe Sydney Morning Herald,14 March 2003
- State Library of New South Wales, National Biography Award Home Page