Writers of colour dominate Miles Franklin shortlist
Hong Kong-born Brian Castro, Sri-Lankan-born Michelle de Kretser, Tongan-Australian Winnie Dunn, Burruberongal woman Julie Janson, Malaysian-born Siang Lu and Fiona McFarlane comprise the shortlist for the 2025 Miles Franklin Literary Award, released on Wednesday.
The winner of the $60,000 prize will be announced on July 25 by award trustee Perpetual and the Copyright Agency's Cultural Fund.
Janson, Lu and debut author Dunn are shortlisted for the first time, joining 2013 and 2018 winner de Kretser, and Castro and McFarlane, who have previously been shortlisted.
Judges said the shortlist "celebrates writing that refuses to compromise".
"Each of these works vitalises the form of the novel and invents new languages for the Australian experience," they said.
Copyright Agency chief executive Josephine Johnston said the shortlist highlighted the extraordinary breadth of Australian storytelling.
"From a powerful debut to new works by first-time nominees and acclaimed authors, the shortlist reflects the richness and diversity of voices shaping our literary landscape," she said.
Shortlisted authors each receive $5000 from the Copyright Agency's Cultural Fund.
The Award was established in 1954 by the estate of My Brilliant Career author Stella Maria Sarah Miles Franklin to celebrate the Australian character and creativity.
It supports the betterment of literature by recognising the novel of the highest literary merit each year which presents "Australian life in any of its phases".
2025 MILES FRANKLIN AWARD SHORTLIST:
* Chinese Postman by Brian Castro
* Theory & Practice by Michelle de Kretser
* Dirt Poor Islanders by Winnie Dunn
* Compassion by Julie Janson
* Ghost Cities by Siang Lu
* Highway 13 by Fiona McFarlane
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
West Australian
2 hours ago
- West Australian
Doja Cat: Rap star to launch Australian tour in November with RAC Arena show on November 22
Grammy-winning singer and rapper Doja Cat will have West Coast fans purring in November when she launches her first ever Australian arena tour in Perth. Set to unveil her Ma Vie World Tour at RAC Arena on November 22, the headline maker will follow it up with singular shows at Melbourne's Rod Laver Arena, Brisbane Entertainment Centre, and Sydney's Qudos Bank Arena. The announcement aligns with the release of her latest single Jealous Type in the first taste of music from her fifth studio album Vie before it drops on September 26. Known for her boundary pushing outfits and catchy pop-rap verses, the 29-year-old's global presence has grown to 36 billion combined streams through fan favourites Paint The Town Red and Kiss Me More. The latter, which she shares with fellow American star SZA, won the pair a Grammy in 2022 for Best Pop Duo/Group performance. It marked the LA artist's only win from an impressive 19 nominations — drawing collaborations with trendsetters such as Ariana Grande, Nicki Minaj, and The Weeknd. In 2023, the shapeshifter famously rocked the Met Gala red carpet dressed as Karl Lagerfeld's cat, Choupette. And in 2024, she became the first female rapper to headline the main stage of world-famous Californian music festival Coachella, and welcomed a five-star salute from many critics. Sure to bring multiple outfits and maximum energy to the catwalk of RAC Arena, Doja Cat hasn't always maintained a healthy relationship with her followers online. Having historically decried her fanbase's moniker 'Kittenz', the performer has been quick to shut down narratives and rhetoric surrounding her that she's disagreed with in a bid to maintain control over her image. She even threatened to quit music in 2022 after South American fans called her out for not properly addressing a cancelled music festival set. With Aussie music fans buoyed by the Thursday line up announcement of Wildlands festival in early January, headlined by Dom Dolla, Addison Rae, and Kid Cudi, Doja Cat's tour is set to unofficially ignite summer Down Under. What should Doja Cat's fans expect in Australia? Lots of colour, a bit of weird, and plenty of energy.
Perth Now
2 hours ago
- Perth Now
American rap star announces her biggest Aussie tour ever
Grammy-winning singer and rapper Doja Cat will have West Coast fans purring in November when she launches her first ever Australian arena tour in Perth. Set to unveil her Ma Vie World Tour at RAC Arena on November 22, the headline maker will follow it up with singular shows at Melbourne's Rod Laver Arena, Brisbane Entertainment Centre, and Sydney's Qudos Bank Arena. The announcement aligns with the release of her latest single Jealous Type in the first taste of music from her fifth studio album Vie before it drops on September 26. Known for her boundary pushing outfits and catchy pop-rap verses, the 29-year-old's global presence has grown to 36 billion combined streams through fan favourites Paint The Town Red and Kiss Me More. The latter, which she shares with fellow American star SZA, won the pair a Grammy in 2022 for Best Pop Duo/Group performance. Doja Cat will bring her first arena shows to Australia and New Zealand in spring. Credit: Live Nation It marked the LA artist's only win from an impressive 19 nominations — drawing collaborations with trendsetters such as Ariana Grande, Nicki Minaj, and The Weeknd. In 2023, the shapeshifter famously rocked the Met Gala red carpet dressed as Karl Lagerfeld's cat, Choupette. And in 2024, she became the first female rapper to headline the main stage of world-famous Californian music festival Coachella, and welcomed a five-star salute from many critics. Doja Cat attends The Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume Institute benefit gala celebrating the opening of the Karl Lagerfeld: A Line of Beauty in 2023. Credit: Evan Agostini / Evan Agostini/Invision/AP Sure to bring multiple outfits and maximum energy to the catwalk of RAC Arena, Doja Cat hasn't always maintained a healthy relationship with her followers online. Having historically decried her fanbase's moniker 'Kittenz', the performer has been quick to shut down narratives and rhetoric surrounding her that she's disagreed with in a bid to maintain control over her image. She even threatened to quit music in 2022 after South American fans called her out for not properly addressing a cancelled music festival set. Doja Cat just dropped her single Jealous Type. Credit: Jacob Webster With Aussie music fans buoyed by the Thursday line up announcement of Wildlands festival in early January, headlined by Dom Dolla, Addison Rae, and Kid Cudi, Doja Cat's tour is set to unofficially ignite summer Down Under. What should her fans expect in Australia? Lots of colour, a bit of weird, and plenty of energy.
West Australian
3 hours ago
- West Australian
‘Beyond our control': Sydney's The Old Manly Boatshed to close in September
Beloved Sydney music venue and pub The Old Manly Boatshed is closing down. The venue will close its doors in mid-September, owner Goff Burgess revealed late on Thursday night, ending a 38-year run for the longstanding institution. 'Due to circumstances beyond our control, it is with deep sadness and regret that after 38 years of continuous live entertainment, music, dancing, comedy, restaurant and bar, our beloved venue is being forced to close its doors,' Mr Burgess said. The venue sits between the Manly Wharf ferry stop and Manly Beach on The Corso strip. 'From its beginnings as a restaurant, bar and live music venue on Darley Road, to the digging of the tunnel to create what we know today, the Old Manly Boatshed has grown into Australia's longest-running live music and comedy venue,' Mr Burgess said. 'The Boaty has echoed with the sounds of laughter and live comedy, the pulse of live music, the voices of would-be entertainers and live band karaoke, plus the stories of thousands who have found their way through these porthole doors and navigated their way down the iconic stairway into the beating heart of entertainment in Manly. 'To say this is a shock is a total understatement. While it's hard to imagine Manly without The Boaty, what remains is the legacy we've built together.' Hundreds of punters have taken to social media to express their shock and sadness at the news. 'The Boatshed is such a Manly institution, it's so sad to see it go,' one wrote. 'One of the only remaining venues that had a soul and has not been gentrified. That's why we all loved it. Such a leveller and patrons from all ages.' Another said while it was a 'very sad day', there was a lot to be 'acknowledged and celebrated'. 'Throughout the 38 years, the Boatshed has been a constant supporter of breaking bands and upcoming musicians,' they said. 'Many of Australia's finest musicians have graced the Boatshed stage and for many starting out, Goff and the Boatshed's support was integral to them being able to make a career of it all. 'Goff and The Old Manly Boatshed over many, many years has made an immeasurable contribution to the Australian music industry and deserves to be acknowledged and celebrated for it. On ya Goffie.' The Boatshed's closure follows a string of live venue closures across Sydney and Australia, as the pub and music industry struggles to recover from Covid and cost-of-living shocks. Research from comparison website Finder revealed a dramatic spending slump on artistic experiences in 2024. Some 24 per cent of Australians have avoided live theatre, the data shows, while 36 per cent have passed up a concert, 27 per cent have skipped a music festival and 22 per cent have missed a comedy show.
