2008 Prime Minister's Literary Awards
The Arts Minister Peter Garrett has announced the short list for the 2008 Prime Minister’s Literary Awards.
Prime Minister Kevin Rudd
“The judging panels are to be commended for the meticulous and thoughtful consideration they have given to the selection of Australian fiction and non-fiction entered in these new awards.
“The books they have chosen are an impressive indication of the outstanding breadth and quality of modern Australian literature.”
The Awards
The Prime Minister’s Literary Awards are a new initiative celebrating the contribution of Australian literature to the nation’s cultural and intellectual life.
The awards, which will be held annually, recognise literature’s importance to our national identity, community and economy.
A tax free prize of $100, 000 will be awarded to the work judged to be of the highest literary merit in each of two categories:
- Fiction
- Non-Fiction
Would you like to receive the latest news on this year’s award? Our e-newsletter will keep you up-to-date on announcements of winning authors, judges’ comments and awards’ events.
The awards are open to works written by Australian citizens and permanent residents. Authors, publishers and literary agents are eligible to enter works, first published in the calendar year prior to the awards.
Close to 200 works were entered in the fiction and non-fiction categories of the 2008 awards.
The closing date for 2008 entries was the 28 March 2008. The winners will be announced in coming months
The fiction judges
Three eminent Australians have been appointed to judge the best fiction works in the 2008 awards.
Chair of the fiction judging panel, author and academic Professor Peter Pierce, says judging the awards has confirmed his optimism about the state of Australian literature.
The non-fiction judges
Three eminent Australians have been appointed to judge the best non-fiction works in the 2008 awards.
Author and academic Professor Hilary Charlesworth says judging these awards has made her realise what a creative country Australia is.
Quicklinks
Contacts
For further information please contact the Prime Minister’s Literary Awards, at the Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts:
Phone: 1800 707 889
Email: pmliteraryawards @environment.gov.au
For media inquiries phone: (02) 62759590, 0407 243 993
