Wednesday 20 December, 2006

Oz Lit

Here's an extract from my article in this week's New Matilda.

'This week a project was launched which gives further cause for hope: The Centre for the Macquarie PEN Anthology of Australian Literature is producing a 1500 page (600,000 word) anthology which will be published by Allen and Unwin in early 2009. According to Allen & Unwin publisher Elizabeth Weiss, 'At a time when there's a lot of uncertainty about the fate of Australian literature works out of print, as well as concern about the teaching of Australian literature in schools and universities, an anthology such as this is particularly significant.'

The anthology is intended to bring Australian writers back into print, and ensure that other's stay there. Speaking at the launch of the Centre at Sydney's Macquarie University, David Malouf reminded us that, 'There is a large body of what we used to think of as essential reading in Australian literature that is no longer readily available.' According to the anthology's General Editor, Nicholas Jose, authors who have works currently out of print include Helen Garner, Thea Astley, Christina Stead, Frank Moorhouse and this year's Miles Franklin winner, Roger McDonald.