We are seeking a substantial article, either a profile of a major literary figure or a discursive essay with literary/cultural themes. Senior writers with strong publication records are encouraged to apply. They have until 1 September to do so.

The ABR Patrons’ Fellowship is funded by our Patrons, of whom we now have sixty. We gratefully acknowledge the support of our Patrons, who have supported the magazine through tax-deductible donations of $250 or more.

Shock is the word

Peter Temple has won this year’s Miles Franklin Literary Award for his novel Truth (Text Publishing). ‘Shock is the word,’ said Temple on accepting the Award. Morag Fraser, spokesperson for the judges, described his novel as ‘writing tempered by fire’.

The organisers’ new, sensible – if slightly excruciating – policy of keeping the decision to themselves until the announcement certainly worked. Five of the six nominated authors attended the function; the sixth was overseas. (Last year, deflatingly, none of them appeared.) This is just one step by The Trust Company to ‘revitalise Australia’s most authentic literary award’, in the words of John Atkin, Chief Executive of Trust. We will see more events and ceremonies being held outside Sydney. There is also talk of a formal amendment to the judging criteria, as set by Miles Franklin in her bequest. This year, two widely acclaimed novels – J.M. Coetzee’s Summertime and David Malouf’s Ransom – were ineligible because of a lack of any Australian content or references.

Since the late 1990s judges have exercised more liberality than was the case in the past (Peter Carey’s Jack Maggs won in 1998, for instance), but there is a limit to what they can do, legally or morally, despite the wishfulness of some observers. Any sanctioned widening of the pool of eligible books would surely rejuvenate the Award.

 Vale Randolph Stow

Randolph Stow, one of Australia’s finest writers, has died in England, aged seventy-four. Stow, just twenty-two at the time, won the second Miles Franklin Award with his novel To the Islands. The Merry-Go-Round in the Sea (voted number eighteen in last year’s ABR FAN Poll) remains popular with readers, but otherwise Stow is a wildly ignored author. Tony Hassall, doyen of Stow scholars, wrote about him at length in our September 2009 issue. In this issue, Laurie Hergenhan recalls a visit to the home of the increasingly reclusive Stow back in 1973.

Calling all poets

Once again we seek entries in our poetry competition, now renamed the Peter Porter Poetry Prize. The first prize is worth $4000, and the shortlisted poets will each receive $250. Entries close on 15 November 2010. Full details appear on page 23.

Clive James, who esteemed Peter Porter and visited him not long before his death in April, has an elegy in this issue, on page 53. ‘Silent Sky’ first appeared in the June issue of Standpoint, which inadvertently illustrated the poem with a photograph of David Malouf. Peter Porter, ever self-deprecating, would have been wryly amused.

Shirley Walker wins the Kibble Award

Shirley Walker, a senior contributor for many years, has won the 2010 Nita B. Kibble Award for Women Writers – worth $30,000 – for her family memoir The Ghost at the Wedding: A True Story (Viking). Brenda Niall, who reviewed the book in our July–August 2009 issue, wrote: ‘Shirley Walker’s moving and eloquently written new book stands somewhere between fiction and memoir.’ 

Triple Threat

Memoir, chamber music or opera – take your pick! In our winter double issue we have three incentives to subscribe or renew your subscription. Ten new subscribers will receive a signed copy of Brenda Walker’s acclaimed literary memoir, Reading by Moonlight, with thanks to Penguin. Twenty renewing subscribers will receive a double ticket worth $54 to any performance of the Palace Opera; including Don Carlo, Mayerling, Ondine and Love’s Labour Lost (see page 68). For those who subscribe or renew for two years we have ten tickets valued at $90 to the Australian Chamber Orchestra’s Barefoot Fiddler to give away; performed in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane or Perth (see page 44). Ring us now on (03) 9429 6700 or subscribe online to claim your prize. Be quick! These prizes go in a flash.