Biography, in the widest sense of that term – the chronicling of human lives in any medium: print, sound, film, digital, photographic, painterly – is currently attracting exceptional interest within Australia and across the world. It is a popular interest, as you see when you enter any library or bookstore, or turn on the television. It’s an interest, even more remarkably, that is now shared within the universities across an unusual range of disciplines, animating academics who, just a few years ago, might well have viewed the practice with indifference or suspicion. Professor Donaldson’s lecture will look at some of the forces driving the cur-rent resurgence of interest in biography, and some of the more enterprising recent examples of the genre.

This year ABR and its chief sponsor, La Trobe University, will present their joint annual lecture in two cities. The first will take place at the National Library of Australia at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, August 9. This is a free event, in the Library’s Theatre. Bookings are essential: (02) 6262 1271 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Professor Donaldson will then deliver the lecture at La Trobe University in mid-September (details to follow).

Knox to commission books

The Sydney Morning Herald’s literary editor Malcolm Knox has made the leap from literary journalist moon-lighting as an author (Summerland and A Private Man) to publishing other people’s books. He has joined Pan Macmillan as an editorial consultant. Catherine Keenan succeeds him as literary editor of the SMH.

Our first reader survey

We hope that many ABR readers (past and present) will complete our first reader survey. Your views on the magazine’s strengths and weaknesses, and on ABR’s role in the literary culture, will help us to shape the magazine in coming years. We don’t undertake this survey lightly, and we certainly don’t intend to waste your time. The purpose is to improve the magazine, to widen our reach, and to continue providing readers with expert, independent critique and commentary.

Please fill out the enclosed survey and send it to us by July 31. If you need an extra copy, contact Lorraine Harding on (03) 9429 6700 or at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. The survey can also be downloaded from our website. You may wish to submit the survey anonymously, but if you decide to add your name and details to the survey, you will be in the running for a free ten-year subscription to ABR or a copy of Kate Grenville’s much-gonged novel The Secret River.

ABR and CAE join forces

Over the past decade, reading – that solitary pleasure – has become a much more convivial pastime with the emergence of the book club. ABR is joining forces with the good people at the CAE Book Groups to run a reviewing competition. The CAE hosts more than 1000 groups in Victoria, and plays a prominent role in encouraging the reading and discussion of books. We hope that some members, perhaps after a lively meeting of their group, will be inspired to capture their thoughts about a book on paper. The competition is open to CAE Books Groups members only, and any Australian book published since 2000 is eligible for review. Full details and entry forms are on our website: www.vicnet.net.au/~abr. You have until September 30.

The Calibre Prize

Don’t forget that the closing date is July 31. The Calibre Prize (The Australian Book Review and Copyright Agency Limited Annual Prize for an Outstanding Essay), worth $10,000, is by far Australia’s most lucrative prize for an unpublished essay. Essays must be between 3000 and 10,000 words. Details appear on page 5, and the full guidelines and entry form appear on ABR’s website.

Les Murray’s Letters

Lisa Gorton, on page 29, reviews Les Murray’s Collected Poems and his latest collection, The Biplane Houses. Now we learn that Peter Alexander, author of the controversial biography of Murray (2000), is editing his correspondence, ‘with Murray’s support and help’. That should be a delicate project. Professor Alexander is seeking information about Murray’s letters and cards. His email address is This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., and his postal address is the School of English, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052.2006 ABR/La Trobe University Annual Lecture