‘Edenglassie’ wins 2024 Margaret and Colin Roderick Literary Award
The Foundation for Australian Literary Studies (FALS) at James Cook University in Townsville has announced Edenglassie by Melissa Lucashenko (UQP) is the winner of the $50,000 Margaret and Colin Roderick Literary Award.
Chosen from eight shortlisted titles for the 2024 award, Edenglassie takes its title ‘from an early colonial name for the city now known as Meanjin or Brisbane, with the stories in Edenglassie working in curves and circles, tying together the mid-nineteenth century and the present’, said FALS in a statement. ‘They are held together by strong characterisation, as is the case with the witty, wise and gutsy Granny Edie. The Roderick Award judges praised Edenglassie for the qualities that have long characterised Lucashenko’s work: originality, energy, erudition, and a distinctive blend of humour and gravitas.’
Lucashenko said she was ‘absolutely thrilled and honoured to receive the Margaret and Colin Roderick Literary Award’. ‘Though I hail from the south and my books are mostly set on Bundjalung Country, I’ve had a longstanding connection to Far North Queensland and Townsville in particular. My kinship family have roots in Palm Island, Yarrabah, Hopevale and elsewhere on the Cape,’ said Lucashenko. ‘Edenglassie was strongly influenced by these bama mobs’ much more recent, and distinctly northern, experiences of colonisation. It’s therefore particularly gratifying to see my novel recognised in this award at JCU. Always was, always will be. Bugalbeh (thank you).’
The Margaret and Colin Roderick Literary Award is presented to a book first published in Australia during the current year that ‘deals with any aspect of Australian life’. The 2024 award was judged by Leigh Dale (chair), Mary Vernon and Susan K Martin.
Edenglassie previously won the Queensland Premier’s Award for a Work of State Significance, the fiction award at the Victorian Premier’s Literary Awards, the adult fiction award at the BookPeople Book of the Year Awards, and the fiction award in the Indie Book Awards.
Category: Awards Local news
