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Molloy wins 2021 Anne Elder Award

Australian Poetry has announced Audrey Molloy’s The Important Things (Gallery Press) as the winner of the 2021 Anne Elder Award for a first book of poetry.

According to the 2021 prize judges, Marjon Mossammaparast, Marcella Polain and last year’s winner Ella Jeffrey, Molloy’s ‘surprising, elegant poems explore intimacy, domesticity and grief, and as she navigates this complex terrain her voice remains assured, self-aware and charismatic’.

‘This mature and grounded voice, unafraid to expose the fragility and vulnerability that come with life’s experiences, is suffused with human warmth that connects with and engages the reader. Though a highly personal collection, we see ourselves reflected in the poems and bear testament to the adjacency of loss and grief with re-discovery of joy and pleasure.’

The Important Things was chosen from a ‘strong field’ that also included highly commended collections Dropbear by Evelyn Araluen (UQP), The Open by Lucy Van (Cordite) and Animals With Human Voices by Damen O’Brien (Recent Work). James Lucas was commended for his book Rare Bird (Recent Work).

Established in 1977 and valued at $1000, the annual Anne Elder Award is awarded to the best sole-authored first book of poetry in Australia. For more information, see the Australian Poetry website.

 

Category: Awards Local news