The Age Book of the Year Awards explained

The Age Book of the Year Awards were annual literary awards presented by Melbourne's The Age newspaper. The awards were first presented in 1974. After 1998, they were presented as part of the Melbourne Writers Festival. Initially, two awards were given, one for fiction (or imaginative writing), the other for non-fiction work, but in 1993, a poetry award in honour of Dinny O'Hearn was added.[1] The criteria were that the works be "of outstanding literary merit and express Australian identity or character,"[1] and be published in the year before the award was made. One of the award-winners was chosen as The Age Book of the Year. The awards were discontinued in 2013.

In 2021 The Age Book of the Year was revived as a fiction prize, with the winner announced at the Melbourne Writers Festival. A non-fiction prize was added the following year.[2]

The Age Book of the Year (from 2021)

Fiction

The Age Book of the Year Awards winners!Year!Author!Title!Ref.
2021Robbie ArnottThe Rain Heron[3] [4]
2022Miles AllinsonIn Moonland[5]
2023Robbie ArnottLimberlost[6]
2024Tony BirchWomen & Children[7]

Non-Fiction

The Age Book of the Year Awards winners!Year!Author!Title!Ref.
2022Bernadette BrennanLeaping into Waterfalls
2023Kim MahoodWandering with Intent
2024Ross McMullinLife So Full of Promise

The Age Book of the Year (from 1974-2012)

The Age Book of the Year Awards winners!Year!Author!Title!Ref.
1974[8]
1975[9]
1976A Late Picking: Poems 1965-1974[10]
Capitalism, Socialism and the Environment
1977Not awarded[11]
1978[12]
1979[13]
1980[14]
Homesickness
1981Eric Charles RollsA Million Wild Acres[15]
1982David MaloufFly Away Peter[16]
1983Mr Scobie's Riddle[17]
1984The Bellarmine Jug[18]
1985Illywhacker[19]
1986Sister Ships and Other Stories[20]
1987Stories from the Warm Zone[21]
1988Forty-Seventeen[22]
1989Marsden HordernMariners are Warned: John Lort Stokes and HMA Beagle[23]
1990Blessed City[24]
1991Patrick White: A Life[25]
1992Lovers' Knots[26]
1993The Georges' Wife[27]
1994[28]
1995Chris Wallace-CrabbeSelected Poems 1956–1994[29]
1996[30]
1997Jack Maggs[31]
1998Three Dollars[32]
1999Sacred Places: War Memorials in the Australian Landscape[33]
2000Isobel on the Way to the Corner Shop[34]
2001Untold Lives and Later Poems[35]
2002Recollections of a Bleeding Heart: Paul Keating PM[36]
2003Of a Boy[37]
2004Totem[38]
2005Plenty: Digressions on Food[39]
2006Friendly Fire[40]
2007Colonial Ambition: Foundations of Australian Democracy[41]
2008American Journeys[42]
2009Things We Didn't See Coming[43]
2010Lovesong[44]
2011Indelible Ink[45]
20121835: The Founding of Melbourne & the Conquest of Australia[46]

Fiction (or Imaginative Writing) Award

Fiction (or Imaginative Writing) Award winners!Year!Author!Title!Ref.
1974
1975
1976A Late Picking: Poems 1965-1974
1977No award[47]
1978
1979
1980
Homesickness
1981Turtle Beach
1982Fly Away Peter
1983Mr Scobie's Riddle
1984[48]
1985Illywhacker[49]
1986Sister Ships and Other Stories
1987Stories from the Warm Zone
1988Forty-Seventeen
1989My Father's Moon
1990Longleg
1991Double-Wolf
1992Lovers' Knots
1993
1994
1995Billy Sunday
1996
1997Peter CareyJack Maggs
1998Three Dollars
1999The Deep Field
2000Isobel on the Way to the Corner Shop
2001True History of the Kelly Gang
2002Gilgamesh
2003Of a Boy
2004
2005Sixty Lights
2006Dead Europe
2007Every Move You Make
2008Breath
2009Things We Didn't See Coming
2010Lovesong[50]
2011Indelible Ink
2012Foal's Bread

Non-fiction Award

Non-fiction Award winners!Year!Author!Title!Ref.
1974A History of Australia (Vol. 3)
1975Not awarded
1976Capitalism, Socialism and the Environment
1977Not awarded
1978
1979Not awarded
1980Not awarded
1981
1982John Monash: A Biography
1983History of Tasmania
1984HB Higgins: The Rebel and Judge
Rowspan=21985Mapping the Paddocks
Vietnam: A Reporter's War
1986George Johnston: A Biography
1987
1988Big-Noting: The Heroic Theme in Australian War Writing
1989Mariners are Warned!: John Lort Stokes and HMS Beagle in Australia 1837-1843
1990Blessed City
1991Patrick White: A Life
1992
1993Journeyings
1994Lyrebird Rising
1995
1996Robin Boyd: A Life
1997Snake Cradle
1998
1999Sacred Places: War Memorials in the Australian Landscape
2000Craft for a Dry Lake
2001
2002Recollections of a Bleeding Heart: Paul Keating Prime Minister
2003Charles Condor: The Last Bohemian
2004
2005Plenty: Digressions on Food
2006Velocity
2007Colonial Ambition: Foundations of Australian Democracy
2008American Journeys
2009Down to the Crossroads
2010Ten Hail Marys
2011
20121835: The Founding of Melbourne & The Conquest of Australia

Dinny O'Hearn Poetry Prize

Dinny O'Hearn Poetry Prize winners!Year!Author!Title!Ref.
1993At the Florida
1994
1995Selected Poems 1956–1994
1996Weeping for Lost Babylon
1997
Dragons in their Pleasant Palaces
1998
1999
2000Empty Texas
2001Untold Lives and Later Poems
2002After Images
2003Mangroves
2004Totem
2005
2006Friendly Fire
2007
2008Not Finding Wittgenstein
2009Better Than God
2010Pirate Rain
2011Starlight: 150 Poems
2012

First Book

Notes and References

  1. The Oxford Companion to Australian Literature edited by Wilde et al. (1994) p. 23
  2. Web site: 2021-06-10. MWF partners with the Age, Book of the Year award returns. live. 2021-06-11. Books+Publishing. en-AU. 11 June 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210611181757/https://www.booksandpublishing.com.au/articles/2021/06/10/187911/mwf-partners-with-the-age-book-of-the-year-award-returns/.
  3. Web site: 2021-09-06 . 'The Rain Heron' wins Age Book of the Year . live . 2021-09-06 . Books+Publishing . en-AU . 6 September 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210906091058/https://www.booksandpublishing.com.au/articles/2021/09/06/192706/age-book-of-the-year/ .
  4. Web site: Steger . Jason . 2021-09-03 . Robbie Arnott's Rain Heron swoops on the Age Book of the Year . 2023-02-24 . . en . 15 October 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221015061358/https://www.smh.com.au/culture/books/robbie-arnott-s-rain-heron-swoops-on-the-age-book-of-the-year-20210902-p58o8b.html . live .
  5. Web site: "'It threw me sideways!' The Age book of the year winners announced" . 8 September 2022. The Age, 8 September 2022. 31 January 2024.
  6. Web site: "'He has produced a gem': An ode to humble Australians wins The Age Book of the Year" . 4 May 2023. The Age, 4 May 2023. 31 January 2024.
  7. Web site: "Tony Birch wins Book of the Year for timely novel about one of Australia’s great challenges" . 8 May 2024. The Age, 8 May 2024. 9 May 2024.
  8. Web site: "The Age brings back Melbourne Writers Festival and revives book of the year award" . 9 June 2021. The Sydney Morning Herald, 9 June 2021. 12 July 2023.
  9. Web site: "Book award" . Canberra Times. 22 November 1975. The Canberra Times, 22 November 1975, p3. 12 July 2023.
  10. Web site: "'AGE' award to historian, poet" . The Age, 24 November 1976. 12 May 2024. .
  11. Web site: Austlit — The Age Book of the Year Award 1977. Austlit. 4 September 2023.
  12. Web site: "Novel in a slice of history" . The Age, 2 December 1978. 12 May 2024. .
  13. Web site: "Rewards of many kinds for our gifted writers" . The Age, 8 December 1979, p23. 20 May 2024. .
  14. Web site: "Authors share 'Age' award" . The Age, 29 November 1980, p23. 20 May 2024. .
  15. Web site: "NSW man wins 'Age' book award" . The Age, 5 December 1981, p3. 20 May 2024. .
  16. Web site: "Malouf wins book award with 'Fly Away Peter'" . The Age, 27 November 1982, p4. 20 May 2024. .
  17. Web site: "'Riddle' is Book of the Year" . Canberra Times. 7 December 1983. The Canberra Times, 7 December 1983, p28. 29 December 2023.
  18. Web site: "Book council president" . Canberra Times. 8 December 1984. The Canberra Times, 8 December 1984, p3. 30 December 2023.
  19. Web site: "Another award for Carey's 'Illywacker'" . Canberra Times. 7 March 1986. The Canberra Times, 7 March 1986, p1. 30 December 2023.
  20. Web site: "Short Stories Top the List" . The Age, 3 December 1986, p11. 28 May 2024. .
  21. Web site: "Book judges find winners in warm zones and on fatal shores" . The Age, 5 December 1987, p5. 28 May 2024. .
  22. Web site: Moorhouse's 'Forty-Seventeen' is Age Book of the Year" . The Age, 9 December 1988, p4. 28 May 2024. .
  23. Web site: Repaying old debt to sailors pays off for first-time writer" . The Age, 2 December 1989, p4. 28 May 2024. .
  24. Web site: "A poet's collection of letters wins 'Age' Book of the Year prize" . The Age, 1 December 1990, p12. 28 May 2024. .
  25. Web site: "Booknotes" . The Sydney Morning Herald, 7 December 1991, p44. 28 May 2024. .
  26. Web site: "Family the theme 'Age' literary winners" . The Age, 5 December 1992, p19. 28 May 2024. .
  27. Web site: "Jolley's way with words, not money, brings new success" . The Age, 23 November 1993, p16. 15 July 2024. .
  28. Web site: "Carey wins 'The Age' Book of the Year with the help of Tristan Smith" . The Age, 3 December 1994, p3. 28 May 2024. .
  29. Web site: "Word conjuror wins Age award" . The Age, 14 December 1995, p3. 28 May 2024. .
  30. Web site: "Literary award for Astley" . The Sydney Morning Herald, 18 December 1996, p4. 16 June 2024. .
  31. Web site: "Aboriginal author has the write stuff to win Age literary award" . The Age, 17 December 1997, p3. 16 June 2024. .
  32. Web site: "A rich and varied harvest" . The Age, 29 August 1998, p8. 16 June 2024. .
  33. Web site: "Age Book of the Year" . The Age, 27 August 1999, p99. 16 June 2024. .
  34. Web site: "Writing's late starter improves with age" . The Age, 26 August 2000, p4. 17 June 2024. .
  35. Web site: "Poet wins Book of the Year award" . The Age, 25 August 2001, p12. 17 June 2024. .
  36. Web site: "Man of many words wins Age book award" . The Age, 24 August 2002, p13. 15 July 2024. .
  37. Web site: "No need for a `real job' after book wins prize" . The Age, 22 August 2003, p3. 15 July 2024. .
  38. Web site: 2004-08-21 . Totem wins The Age Book of the Year . 2023-02-24 . The Age . en . 25 June 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220625102656/https://www.theage.com.au/entertainment/books/totem-wins-the-age-book-of-the-year-20040821-gdyhwi.html . live .
  39. Web site: 2005-08-20 . More than restaurants . 2023-02-24 . The Age . en . 27 June 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220627064726/https://www.theage.com.au/entertainment/books/more-than-restaurants-20050820-ge0q5r.html . live .
  40. Web site: Steger . Jason . 2006-08-26 . Poet of the political takes Age Book of the Year prize . 15 July 2024 . The Age . en . 17 February 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200217021849/https://www.theage.com.au/entertainment/poet-of-the-political-takes-age-book-of-the-year-prize-20060826-ge3083.html . live .
  41. Web site: 2007-08-25 . Entitled to tell a story . 2023-02-24 . The Age . en . 26 January 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210126135531/http://www.theage.com.au/entertainment/books/entitled-to-tell-a-story-20070825-ge5ntt.html . live .
  42. Web site: Steger . Jason . 2008-08-22 . US travel memoir wins Age Book of the Year Award . 2023-02-24 . The Age . en . 14 June 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220614060308/https://www.theage.com.au/national/us-travel-memoir-wins-age-book-of-the-year-award-20080822-40e3.html . live .
  43. Web site: Steger . Jason . 2009-08-22 . Apocalyptic novel wins book of the year . 2023-02-24 . The Age . en . 15 August 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220815084846/https://www.theage.com.au/entertainment/books/apocalyptic-novel-wins-book-of-the-year-20090822-ge81z2.html . live .
  44. Web site: 'Simple love story' wins Age award . 10 November 2014 . 30 August 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150830135339/http://www.theage.com.au/entertainment/books/simple-love-story-wins-age-award-20100827-13w5f.html . live .
  45. Web site: Steger . Jason . 2011-08-26 . Winning words . 2023-02-24 . The Age . en . 16 December 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20181216073722/https://www.theage.com.au/entertainment/books/winning-words-20110826-1jdzd.html . live .
  46. Web site: Steger . Jason . 2012-08-24 . The words that count . 2023-02-24 . The Age . en . 13 June 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220613053204/https://www.theage.com.au/entertainment/books/the-words-that-count-20120824-24qs5.html . live .
  47. Web site: Austlit — Age Book of the Year Award - Fiction Prize 1977 . Austlit. 5 September 2023.
  48. Web site: Austlit — Age Book of the Year — Imaginative Writing Prize 1984 . Austlit. 14 October 2023.
  49. Web site: Austlit — Age Book of the Year — Imaginative Writing Prize 1985 . Austlit. 14 October 2023.
  50. Web site: "The Age Book of the Year Award - Fiction Prize (2008-2012)" . Austlit. 15 February 2024.
  51. Web site: Review . 14 July 2007 . 20 July 2006 . https://web.archive.org/web/20060720092637/http://www.randomhouse.co.nz/book_details.aspx?lookup=true&isbn=1869416724 . live .

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