Shirley Hazzard: A Writing Life charts the story of the Australian novelist widely regarded as one of the greatest writers in the English language. While Hazzard’s body of work is small, including the novels The Great Fire and The Transit of Venus and the memoir Greene on Capri, it has drawn immeasurable acclaim across time, including from Joan Didion, Colm Tóibín, Ann Patchett, Michael Cunningham and Anne Tyler, among others.
Hear from Hazzard’s biographer, Professor Brigitta Olubas, as she illuminates the journey of a girl from the suburbs ‘with a head full of poetry’ who became a globetrotting literary legend, and whose stories – cosmopolitan, richly intelligent, beautiful, questing – reflected her own remarkable life. She speaks with Peter Rose.
20% early-bird discount until 11.59pm, Thursday 6 April
Flexible refund policy
Community tickets for First Nations peoples
Convenient public transport and parking options
Coffee, bars and dining options nearby
Readings bookshops available plus book signings
Over 80% of our 2022 guests felt MWF helped them gain new insights about the world, held their interest and were inclusive, well-produced and topical! (With more than 70% keen to attend again!)
20% early-bird discount until 11.59pm, Thursday 6 April
Flexible refund policy
Community tickets for First Nations peoples
Convenient public transport and parking options
Coffee, bars and dining options nearby
Readings bookshops available plus book signings
Over 80% of our 2022 guests felt MWF helped them gain new insights about the world, held their interest and were inclusive, well-produced and topical! (With more than 70% keen to attend again!)
Brigitta Olubas is professor of English at UNSW Sydney, specialising in Australian literature. She wrote the first scholarly monograph on Shirley Hazzard’s writing and edited Hazzard’s Collected Stories and We Need S...
Amy Thunig, Gomeroi/Gamilaroi/Kamilarou author of the remarkable memoir Tell Me Again leads a workshop on how to translate your own life tale into a compelling memoir. Leave with a clear understanding of the building blocks of autobiography and how to start your own.
Andre Dao (Anam), Nam Le (The Boat) and Maria Tumarkin (Axiomatic and Traumascapes) come together for an illuminating conversation about their crafts and the common themes of their work.
Critically acclaimed author Andre Dao (Anam) leads a workshop on using the techniques of autofiction in your writing, exploring the challenges and rewards of drawing from lived experience.
Celebrated actor Sam Neill shares the unexpected turns of fortune of his storied life, as told in his memoir, Did I Ever Tell You This?, with comedy legend Jane Kennedy.