Jaireth wins ACT Book of the Year

Canberra writer Subhash Jaireth has won the 2021 ACT Book of the Year for his essay collection Spinoza’s Overcoat: Travels with writers and poets (Transit Lounge).

Chosen from a shortlist of six, Jaireth receives $10,000 for his winning book, which explores the lives and travels of writers and poets including Franz Kafka, Mikhail Bulgakov and Paul Celan.

The award’s judges also named two highly commended entries: nonfiction book Oil Under Troubled Water: Australia’s Timor Sea intrigue (Bernard Collaery, MUP) and poetry collection Doggerland (Moya Pacey, Recent Work Press). Each highly commended book is awarded $2000, while the remaining shortlisted authors receive $1000.

Presented by the ACT government, the ACT Book of the Year aims to support the development of ACT-based writers, promote writing in the territory and contribute to a positive writing culture. The winner of last year’s award was Lisa Fuller for her debut YA novel Ghost Bird (UQP).

For more information about the award, see the ArtsACT website.

Category: Awards Local news