Margaret and Colin Roderick Literary Award 2023 longlist announced

The longlist for the Margaret and Colin Roderick Literary Award, which has increased in value to $30,000 and is administered by the Foundation for Australian Literary Studies (FALS) at James Cook University, has been announced.

The 15 longlisted titles, chosen from 225 entries, are:

• Ngirramanujuwal: The art and Country of Jimmy Pike (AIATSIS, Aboriginal Studies Press)
• The Angry Women’s Choir (Meg Bignell, Michael Joseph)
• Swimming Home (Judy Cotton, Black Inc.)
• This Devastating Fever (Sophie Cunningham, Ultimo Press)
• Nimblefoot (Robert Drewe, Hamish Hamilton)
• August & Jones (Pip Harry, Hachette)
• The Jaguar (Sarah Holland-Batt, UQP)
• Bedtime Story (Chloe Hooper, S&S)
• Salonika Burning (Gail Jones, Text)
• Warlpiri Encyclopaedic Dictionary – Warlpiri yimi-kirli manu jaru kurlu (Mary Laughren et al, Aboriginal Studies Press)
• Wizards of Oz (Brett Mason, NewSouth)
• The Cowra Breakout (Mat McLachlan, Hachette)
• Dirt Town (Hayley Scrivenor, Macmillan)
• The Settlement (Jock Serong, Text)
• Tell Me Again: A memoir (Amy Thunig, UQP).

Founded in 1967 by Australian writer, editor, academic and educator Colin Roderick, the award recognises the best original book, according to the judges, that is published in Australia in the previous calendar year, that deals with ‘any aspect of Australian life’.

A shortlist will be announced in late August, with the winner announced at a presentation in October.

Emily Bitto was the 2022 winner for her second novel Wild Abandon (A&U). For more information about the award, see the FALS website.

Category: Awards Local news