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The Age
08-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Age
A late-career marvel and an enriching memoir: The Age Book of the Year winners
The winners of this year's Age Book of the Year Awards have been praised for writing books that stay with readers long after their final pages. The awards were presented by The Age editor Patrick Elligett at the opening night of the Melbourne Writers Festival on Thursday night, and the winners each received $10,000, thanks to the Copyright Agency's Cultural Fund. Rodney Hall's Vortex won the awards' fiction category. Queensland-based Hall, who is 89, was unable to accept the award in person, but said in a pre-recorded video that the experimental Vortex, 'was a risk from the beginning'. Hall, who has twice won the prestigious Miles Franklin Award, said his 14th novel, which is set in Brisbane in 1954 and depicts an alternative history of the 20th century, took shape in 2021 when he found 18 pages of a novel he had abandoned in 1971. 'At long last I could see what I had been aiming for when I was a young man. Fifteen of the eighteen pages went straight into the project.' The fiction judges, author and critic Bram Presser, and The Age and Sydney Morning Herald 's Canberra Bureau Chief Michelle Griffin, described Vortex as a late-career marvel 'that sticks with you ... often surprisingly funny and sad all at once.' 'At a time when many will feel caught up in the vortex of global events, this novel feels both particular to its time and place and yet universal.' The novel has been widely acclaimed as Hall's best, but the author says he 'doesn't distract himself' with comparisons of his novels. 'I just try to keep each book fresh for the reader.'
Sydney Morning Herald
08-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Sydney Morning Herald
A late-career marvel and an enriching memoir: The Age Book of the Year winners
The winners of this year's Age Book of the Year Awards have been praised for writing books that stay with readers long after their final pages. The awards were presented by The Age editor Patrick Elligett at the opening night of the Melbourne Writers Festival on Thursday night, and the winners each received $10,000, thanks to the Copyright Agency's Cultural Fund. Rodney Hall's Vortex won the awards' fiction category. Queensland-based Hall, who is 89, was unable to accept the award in person, but said in a pre-recorded video that the experimental Vortex, 'was a risk from the beginning'. Hall, who has twice won the prestigious Miles Franklin Award, said his 14th novel, which is set in Brisbane in 1954 and depicts an alternative history of the 20th century, took shape in 2021 when he found 18 pages of a novel he had abandoned in 1971. 'At long last I could see what I had been aiming for when I was a young man. Fifteen of the eighteen pages went straight into the project.' The fiction judges, author and critic Bram Presser, and The Age and Sydney Morning Herald 's Canberra Bureau Chief Michelle Griffin, described Vortex as a late-career marvel 'that sticks with you ... often surprisingly funny and sad all at once.' 'At a time when many will feel caught up in the vortex of global events, this novel feels both particular to its time and place and yet universal.' The novel has been widely acclaimed as Hall's best, but the author says he 'doesn't distract himself' with comparisons of his novels. 'I just try to keep each book fresh for the reader.'
Leaders
23-03-2025
- Business
- Leaders
Saudi Cultural Fund Celebrates 3rd Storytellers Event
Saudi Arabia's Cultural Development Fund has held the third annual Storytellers event in Riyadh to boost the Kingdom's cultural sector, according to Arab News. The event brought together senior officials, cultural leaders, entrepreneurs and creators from various cultural fields. Therefore, it served as a valuable platform to strengthen connections and unleash new opportunities in the cultural sector. 'This annual gathering is part of the fund's efforts to foster strong partnerships with key stakeholders and sustain the cultural sector's momentum,' Nawaf Al-Owain, the fund's marketing and communication executive director, told Arab News. During the event, the fund showcased several beneficiary projects, providing guests with an opportunity to experience their creative offerings firsthand. 'It also reflects the fund's role as a key financial enabler and its commitment to empowering creatives and cultural entrepreneurship,' Al-Owain added. In line with the Year of Handicrafts 2025, the event highlighted several cultural activities. Moreover, guests participated in traditional crafts such as prayer bead-making and henna art. Meanwhile, attendees took a look at a special art exhibition displaying works by visual artist and craftswoman Naifah Al-Shahrani. Through vibrant colors and intricate details, the exhibition celebrated the rich heritage of southern Saudi Arabia. The third annual Storytellers sought to foster strategic partnerships with government entities, the private sector as well as nonprofit organizations. Such collaboration will further support sustainable growth in the cultural sector, enhance economic development and promote quality of life. 'Now in its third year, the event has become a cornerstone of the fund's outreach efforts, establishing a platform that unites creatives, entrepreneurs and influencers to exchange ideas, share perspectives, and explore collaboration opportunities across cultural and financial sectors,' Al-Owain stated. Related Topics: Cultural Fund Concludes Participation in Berlin Festival Saudi Cultural Fund to support Saudi cinema with $ 234.4 million Villa Hegra Celebrates Year of Cultural Exchange in Al-Ula Short link : Post Views: 8
