There are not, apparently, many prizes for humour writing around the world, but we have two here in Australia, the Russell Prize and the John Clarke Prize. Those from other countries include the Bollinger Everyman Wodehouse Prize (UK), the Thurber Prize for American Humour, and the Leacock Memorial Medal for Canadian Humour. Do you know … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Prizes for Humour Writing
Monday musings
Monday musings on Australian literature: Collaborative story-telling between First Nations Australian and white writers
National NAIDOC Logo (2025) NAIDOC Week 2025 started yesterday, and as I have done for many years now, I am devoting my NAIDOC Week Monday Musings to celebrating First Nations writers in some way. This year is a particularly special year because it marks NAIDOC Week's 50th anniversary, 50 years it says, "of honoring and … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Collaborative story-telling between First Nations Australian and white writers
Monday musings on Australian literature: on 1925: 1, Literary societies
As I've done in recent years, I decided to start a little Monday Musings sub-series drawing on researching Trove to get a picture of Australian literature a century ago, that is, in 1925. One of the things that popped up as I started this year's Trove trawl was the existence of an active community of … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: on 1925: 1, Literary societies
Monday musings on Australian literature: Forgotten writers 12, Catherine Gaskin
Of all my Forgotten Writers posts, this one is the most questionable because I'm not sure she is completely forgotten. For baby-boomer and I think some Gen X readers, Catherine Gaskin was a household name. Just ask Brona who reviewed her 1962 novel I know my love, and said in her post that she'd read … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Forgotten writers 12, Catherine Gaskin
Monday musings on Australian literature: Names and naming
In yesterday's post on Percival Everett's James, I didn't discuss the issue of naming. I should have, however, as it is a significant aspect of the novel, so much so that the novel ends on exactly that point. Throughout the novel, James, who is called "Jim" by the "massas" (aka masters) if they bother to … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Names and naming
Monday musings on Australian literature: Forgotten writers 11, Nancy Francis
Like my last forgotten writer, Ruby Mary Doyle, today's writer, though also a prolific contributor to newspapers in her day, has slipped into the shadows. Neither Wikipedia nor the Australian dictionary of biography (ADB) contain articles for her, but the AustLit database does and Zora Cross, writing as Bernice May in The Australian Woman's Mirror, … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Forgotten writers 11, Nancy Francis
Monday musings on Australian literature: Trove treasures (13), American scholar on Australian culture (1952)
(Courtesy OCAL, via clker.com) While researching Trove for April's 1952 Year Club, I came across some articles about an American Fulbright scholar's critique of Australian culture, and thought it a worthy topic for my occasional Trove Treasures series. The scholar was John Hough, who was Professor of Classics at Colorado State University, and he was … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Trove treasures (13), American scholar on Australian culture (1952)
Monday musings on Australian literature: Grandparent-lit
Last week's Monday Musings about the Les Murray Award for Refugee Recognition reminded me of the assumptions we make when engrossed in our own little world. When I first heard of this award being made to the slam poet Huda the Goddess, I assumed it was in the name of the Australian poet, Les Murray, … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Grandparent-lit
Monday musings on Australian literature: Les Murray Award for Refugee Recognition
Now THIS is something different for Monday Musings. Yes, it is Australian, but it's not a literary award. Its full title is The Australia for UNHCR – SBS Les Murray Award for Refugee Recognition and, according to Australia's UNHCR website, it "recognises and celebrates the contribution of refugees who are shining a light on the … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Les Murray Award for Refugee Recognition
Monday musings on Australian literature: Stella Prize Shortlist 2025
I missed reporting on the Stella Prize shortlist when it was announced in April, which is unusual for me, but it was a busy time and I just didn't get to it. It was well reported at the time, so I'm sure those who wanted to know didn't miss the news. Consequently, my aim here … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Stella Prize Shortlist 2025
Whispering Gums 