Queen Elizabeth came to the throne at the height of the British Empire and died with the world at a tipping point. Stan Grant’s timely new book, The Queen is Dead, considers how, in the wake of her passing, we might more fully reckon with our colonial past and redefine our future. Listen to Grant […]
A world-renowned expert in American literature and culture, Sarah Churchwell (The Wrath to Come: Gone with the Wind and the Lies America Tells) delivers the 2023 John Button Oration. Examining one of the most popular stories of all time, Gone with the Wind, Churchwell shows how histories of mythmaking have informed America’s racial and gender […]
The ABC has survived numerous crises in recent times – funding cuts, internal tensions and attacks by commercial media rivals chief among them. As it enters its 90th year, a panel of experts discuss how our national broadcaster arrived at its current plight and what its future role will be in a shifting media, technology […]
The 2023 Boisbouvier Conversation What is literature for? The Writers on Writers series has become an indispensable fixture in the literary calendar, with leading authors penning their reflections on Australian writers who have inspired and influenced them. One of the most loved and talked about sessions of the 2023 festival, enjoy this discussion about what […]
Time to add to your reading list? From a story of the weirdest summer featuring a heartbreaking cat to a time-travelling heroine on a nostalgic journey to her father, enjoy the latest recommended reads from Artistic Director Michaela McGuire. Visit Readings, our Official Festival Bookseller, to get your hands on these two. Shirley by Ronnie Scott […]
Ronnie Scott is the author of the acclaimed novels, Shirley and The Adversary, which was shortlisted for a Queensland Literary Award and the Australian Literature Society Gold Medal. Discover the events he’s most looking forward to at the Festival this year and read his reflections on the Festival theme, I’ve Been Away For a While. Scott appears […]
Complete this 15-minute survey for your chance to win a $200 Readings bookstore voucher. We deeply appreciate the opportunity to hear from our community about their experience attending the festival. Your feedback helps us deliver a better experience every year. You can complete the survey below or visit this link for a full-screen view. Create your […]
The time for whiling away summer nights with a book in hand is upon us, so here’s our picks for just what that book should be. From the fantastical and the poetic, to literary favourites and compulsive reads, we hope you enjoy this selection of books the Melbourne Writers Festival team recommend diving into on […]
Looking for the perfect beach read? Small towns, secrets, heartbreaks, heat and happy vegetables, there’s a holiday story for everyone in these three recommended reads from Artistic Director Michaela McGuire. Now Is Not the Time to Panic Kevin Wilson Now Is Not the Time to Panic is a sweet story about self-discovery, growth, secrets, mistakes and […]
Vivia Hickman has resigned as CEO of Melbourne Writers Festival after two spectacular years in the role. “The Melbourne Writers Festival is the jewel in the crown of Melbourne’s literary landscape and it has been an enormous privilege to have the opportunity to contribute to its transformation as it emerged from the very difficult pandemic […]