2009 in Australian literature

This article presents a list of the historical events and publications of Australian literature during 2009.

Events

• HarperCollins takes over ABC Books – the publishing arm of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.[1]
• Caro Llewellyn, resigns as director of the new Centre for Books, Writing and Ideas (now called the Wheeler Centre) in Melbourne before taking up the role.[2] Chrissy Sharp, the Australian general manager of Sadler's Wells Theatre in London, is appointed to take her place.[3]
• The Australia-Asia Literary Award, based in Western Australia, is suspended.[4]

Major publications

Literary fiction

• Steven Amsterdam – Things We Didn't See Coming[5]
• Peter Carey – Parrot and Olivier in America
• Steven Carroll – The Lost Life[6]
• Brian Castro – The Bath Fugues
• Nick Cave – The Death of Bunny Munro[7]
• Tracy Crisp – Black Dust Dancing[8]
• Deborah Forster – The Book of Emmett[9]
• Andrea Goldsmith – Reunion[10]
• Marion Halligan – Valley of Grace[11]
• Sonya Hartnett – Butterfly
• Eva Hornung – Dog Boy
• Katherine Johnson – Pescador's Wake[12]
• Tom Keneally – The People's Train
• Kate Legge – The Marriage Club[13]
• David Malouf – Ransom
• Alex Miller – Lovesong
• Jennifer Mills – The Diamond Anchor[14]
• Kristina Olsson – The China Garden
• Sonia Orchard – The Virtuoso[15]
• Susan Varga – Headlong[16]

Children's and Young Adult fiction

• Allan Baille – Krakatoa Lighthouse[17]
• Alyssa Brugman – Girl Next Door[18]
• Judith Clarke – The Winds of Heaven[19]
• Mem Fox
  • Hello, Baby!
  • The Goblin and the Empty Chair
• Odo Hirsch – Darius Bell and the Glitter Pool
• Paul Jennings – The Nest[20]
• Justine Larbalestier – How to Ditch Your Fairy
• Sophie Masson – The Madman of Venice[21]
• David Metzenthen – Jarvis 24[22]
• Tohby Riddle – The Lucky Ones[23]
• Sean Williams – The Scarecrow[24]

Crime and Mystery

• Robert G. Barrett – High Noon in Nimbin[25]
• Sydney Bauer – Move to Strike[26]
• Marshall Browne – The Iron Heart[27]
• Peter Corris – Deep Water
• Garry Disher – Blood Moon
• Kathryn Fox – Blood Born[28]
• Leah Giarratano – Black Ice[29]
• Bronwyn Parry – Dark Country[30]

Romance

• Michelle Douglas – The Aristocrat and The Single Mom[31]
• Nicola Marsh – Two Weeks in the Magnate's Bed[32]
• Katherine Scholes – The Hunter's Wife[33]
• Maxine Sullivan – Valente's Baby[34]

Science Fiction and Fantasy

• Trudi Canavan – The Magician's Apprentice
• Greg Egan
  • Crystal Nights and Other Stories
  • Oceanic
• Kim Falconer – The Spell of Rosette[35]
• Pamela Freeman – Full Circle [36]
• Traci Harding – Being of the Field[37]
• Deborah Kalin – Shadow Queen[38]
• Glenda Larke – The Last Stormlord[39]
• Juliet Marillier – Heart's Blood[40]
• K. J. Taylor – The Dark Griffin[41]
• Sean Williams – The Grand Conjunction[42]

Drama

• Angela Betzien – The Dark Room[43]
• Matt Cameron & Tim Finn – Poor Boy[44]
• Joanna Murray-Smith – Rockabye[45]
• Richard Tulloch – The Book of Everything[46]
• David Williamson – Let the Sunshine[47]

Poetry

• Emily Ballou – The Darwin Poems[48]
• Judith Beveridge – Storm and Honey[49]
• Emma Jones – The Striped World[50]
• Jennifer Maiden – Pirate Rain[51]
• Geoff Page – 60 Classic Australian Poems
• Dorothy Porter – The Bee Hut[52]
• Peter Porter – Better Than God[53]

Biographies

• Roger Averill – Boy He Cry: An Island Odyssey[54]
• Stephen Cummings – Will It Be Funny Tomorrow, Billy?: Misadventures in Music[55]
• Jacqueline Kent – The Making of Julia Gillard[56]
• Harry M. Miller with Peter Holder – Harry M Miller: Confessions of a Not-So-Secret Agent[57]
• Don Walker – Shots[58]
• Jonathon Welch – Choir Man[59]
• Shirley Walker – The Ghost at the Wedding[60]
• George Whaley – Leo 'Rumpole' McKern: An Accidental Actor[61]
• Kristin Williamson – David Williamson: Behind the Scenes[62]

Awards and honours

Lifetime achievement

Award	Author
Christopher Brennan Award[63]	Jennifer Strauss
Melbourne Prize for Literature[64]	Gerald Murnane
Patrick White Award[65]	Beverley Farmer

Literary

Award	Author	Title	Publisher
The Age Book of the Year[66]	Steven Amsterdam	Things We Didn't See Coming	Sleepers Publishing
ALS Gold Medal[67]	Christos Tsiolkas	The Slap	Allen & Unwin
Colin Roderick Award[68]	Graham Freudenberg	Churchill and Australia	Pan Macmillan
	James Boyce	Van Diemen's Land	Black Inc
Indie Book Awards Book of the Year[69]	Craig Silvey	Jasper Jones	Allen & Unwin
Nita Kibble Literary Award[70]	Jacqueline Kent	An Exacting Heart: The Story of Hephzibah Menuhin	Viking

Fiction

International

Award	Region	Category	Author	Title	Publisher
Commonwealth Writers' Prize[71]	SE Asia and South Pacific	Best Novel	Christos Tsiolkas	The Slap	Allen & Unwin
	Overall winner	Best Novel	Christos Tsiolkas	The Slap	Allen & Unwin

National

Award	Author	Title	Publisher
Adelaide Festival Awards for Literature[72]	Not awarded
The Age Book of the Year Award[73]	Steven Amsterdam	Things We Didn't See Coming	Sleepers Publishing
The Australian/Vogel Literary Award[74]	Lisa Lang	Utopian Man	Allen & Unwin
	Kristel Thornell	Night Street	Allen & Unwin
Barbara Jefferis Award[75]	Helen Garner	The Spare Room	Text Publishing
Indie Book Awards Book of the Year – Fiction[69]	Craig Silvey	Jasper Jones	Allen & Unwin
Indie Book Awards Book of the Year – Debut Fiction[69]	Sonia Orchard	The Virtuoso	Fourth Estate
Miles Franklin Award[76]	Tim Winton	Breath	Random House
Prime Minister's Literary Award[77]	Nam Le	The Boat	Hamish Hamilton
New South Wales Premier's Literary Awards[78]	Joan London	The Good Parents	Hamish Hamilton
Queensland Premier's Literary Awards	Richard Flanagan	Wanting	Random House
Victorian Premier's Literary Award	Christos Tsiolkas	The Slap	Allen & Unwin

Children and Young Adult

National

Award	Category	Author	Title	Publisher
Children's Book of the Year Award	Older Readers	Shaun Tan	Tales from Outer Suburbia	Allen & Unwin
	Younger Readers	Glenda Millard, illus. Stephen Michael King	Perry Angel's Suitcase	ABC Books
	Picture Book	Kylie Dunstan	Collecting Colour	Lothian
	Early Childhood	Bob Graham	How to Heal a Broken Wing	Walker Books
Davitt Award	Young Adult Novel	Catherine Jinks	Genius Squad	Allen & Unwin
Indie Book Awards Book of the Year[69]	Children's & YA	Sally Murphy & Heather Potter (Illus)	Pearl Verses The World	Walker Books
New South Wales Premier's Literary Awards	Children's	Ursula Dubosarsky and Tohby Riddle	The Word Spy	Penguin
	Young People's	Michelle Cooper	A Brief History of Montmaray	Random House Australia
Queensland Premier's Literary Awards	Children's	Gaye Chapman	Little Blue	Little Hare Books
	Young Adult	Glenda Millard	A Small Free Kiss in the Dark	Allen & Unwin
South Australian Premier's Awards	Children's	Not awarded
Victorian Premier's Literary Award	Young Adult Fiction	Sue Saliba	Something in the World Called Love	Penguin
Western Australian Premier's Book Awards	Children's	Bob Graham	How to Heal a Broken Wing	Walker Books
	Writing for Young Adults	Shaun Tan	Tales from Outer Suburbia	Allen & Unwin

Crime and Mystery

National

Award	Category	Author	Title	Publisher
Davitt Award[79]	Novel	Malla Nunn	A Beautiful Place to Die	Pan Macmillan
	Young adult novel	Catherine Jinks	Genius Squad	Allen & Unwin
	True crime	Chloe Hooper	The Tall Man	Penguin
	Readers' choice	Katherine Howell	The Darkest Hour	Pan Macmillan
Ned Kelly Award[80]	Novel	Peter Corris	Deep Water	Allen & Unwin
		Kel Robertson	Smoke and Mirrors	Ginninderra Press
	First novel	Nick Gadd	Ghostlines	Scribe
	True crime	Chloe Hooper	The Tall Man	Penguin
	Lifetime achievement	Shane Maloney

Science Fiction and Fantasy

International

Award	Category	Author	Title	Publisher
World Fantasy Award[81]	Best Novel	Margo Lanagan	Tender Morsels	Knopf

National

Award	Category	Author	Title	Publisher
Aurealis Award	SF Novel	Andrew McGahan	Wonders of a Godless World	Allen & Unwin
	SF Short Story	Peter M. Ball	"Clockwork, Patchwork and Ravens"	Apex Magazine
	Fantasy Novel	Trudi Canavan	The Magician's Apprentice	Orbit Books
	Fantasy Short Story	Christopher Green	"Father's Kill"	Beneath Ceaseless Skies
		Ian McHugh	"Once a Month, On a Sunday"	Andromeda Spaceways Inflight Magazine
	Horror Novel	Honey Brown	Red Queen	Penguin Books
	Horror Short Story	Paul Haines	"Slice of Life – A Spot of Liver"	The Mayne Press
		Paul Haines	"Wives"	Coeur de Lion Publishing (X6)
Ditmar Award[82]	Novel	Margo Lanagan	Tender Morsels	Allen & Unwin
	Novella/Novelette	Kirstyn McDermott	"Painlessness"	Greatest Uncommon Denominator
	Short Story	Margo Lanagan	"The Goosle"	The Del Rey Book of Science Fiction and Fantasy
	Collected Work	ed. Jack Dann	Dreaming Again	Voyager
Shadows Award		Kaaron Warren	Slights	Angry Robot

Poetry

Award	Author	Title	Publisher
Adelaide Festival Awards for Literature[72]	Not awarded
The Age Book of the Year	Peter Porter	Better Than God	Picador
Anne Elder Award[83]	Emma Jones	The Striped World	Faber and Faber
Grace Leven Prize for Poetry[84]	Not awarded
Mary Gilmore Prize[85]	Not awarded
New South Wales Premier's Literary Awards	L. K. Holt	Man Wolf Man	John Leonard Press
Queensland Premier's Literary Awards	Emma Jones	The Striped World	Faber
Victorian Premier's Literary Award	Robert Adamson	The Golden Bird	Black Inc.
Western Australian Premier's Book Awards	Kate Middleton	Fire Season	Giramondo Publishing

Drama

Award	Author	Title	Publisher
Patrick White Playwrights' Award	Ian Wilding	Forever Seven

Non-Fiction

Award	Category	Author	Title	Publisher
Adelaide Festival Awards for Literature[72]	Non-Fiction	Not awarded
The Age Book of the Year	Non-fiction	Guy Rundle	Down to the Crossroads	Penguin Books
Indie Book Awards Book of the Year[69]	Non-Fiction	Chloe Hooper	The Tall Man: Death and Life on Palm Island	Hamish Hamilton
Children's Book of the Year Award	Eve Pownall Award for Information Books	Lincoln Hall	Alive in the Death Zone	Random House
Davitt Award	True crime	Chloe Hooper	The Tall Man: Death and Life on Palm Island	Hamish Hamilton
National Biography Award[86]	Biography	Ann Blainey	I Am Melba	Black Inc.
Prime Minister's Literary Awards	Non-fiction	Evelyn Juers	House of Exile: The Life and Times of Heinrich Mann and Nelly-Kroeger Mann	Giramondo Publishing
		Marilyn Lake and Henry Reynolds	Drawing the Global Colour Line	Melbourne University Press
New South Wales Premier's Literary Awards	Non-fiction	Chloe Hooper	The Tall Man: Death and Life on Palm Island	Hamish Hamilton
New South Wales Premier's History Awards	Australian History	Robin Gerster	Travels in Atomic Sunshine: Australia and the Occupation of Japan	Scribe
	Community and Regional History	David Bollen	Up on the Hill: A History of St Patrick's College	UNSW Press
	General History	Warwick Anderson	The Collectors of Lost Souls: Turning Kuru Scientists into Whitemen	Johns Hopkins University Press
	Young People's	Anthony Hill	Captain Cook's Apprentice	Penguin Books
Queensland Premier's Literary Awards	Non-fiction	Chloe Hooper	The Tall Man: Death and Life on Palm Island	Hamish Hamilton
	History	Jill Roe	Stella Miles Franklin	Fourth Estate
Victorian Premier's Literary Award	Non-fiction	Chloe Hooper	The Tall Man: Death and Life on Palm Island	Hamish Hamilton
Western Australian Premier's Book Awards	Non-fiction	Iain McCalman	Darwin's Armada	W.W. Norton
	Western Australian history	Penelope Hetherington	Paupers, Poor Relief & Poor Houses	UWA Publishing

Deaths

• 14 January – Val Vallis, poet (born 1916)[87]
• 3 June – Geoffrey C. Bingham, theological and short story writer (born 1919)[88]
• 3 July – Frank Devine, journalist (born 1931)[89]
• 6 September – Catherine Gaskin, author (born 1929 in Ireland)[90]
• 8 September – Rica Erickson, botanical and historical writer (born 1908)[91]
• 24 November – John West, poet (born 1951)[92]

See also

• 2009 in Australia
• 2009 in literature
• 2009 in poetry
• List of years in literature
• List of Australian literary awards

References

1. HarperCollins takes over at ABC Books
2. "Director closes the book on literature venture". The Age. 4 February 2009. Archived from the original on 26 July 2023.
3. Chapter two in writing centre's quest for leader
4. "Minister suspends $110,000 State literary prize". Archived from the original on 16 April 2009. Retrieved 6 May 2009.
5. "Things We Didn't See Coming by Steven Amsterdam". National Library of Australia. Retrieved 18 June 2024.
6. "The Lost Life by Steven Carroll". National Library of Australia. Retrieved 18 June 2024.
7. "The Death of Bunny Munro by Nick Cave". National Library of Australia. Retrieved 18 June 2024.
8. "Black Dust Dancing by Tracy Crisp". National Library of Australia. Retrieved 18 June 2024.
9. "The Book of Emmett by Deborah Forster". National Library of Australia. Retrieved 18 June 2024.
10. "Reunion by Andrea Goldsmith". National Library of Australia. Retrieved 18 June 2024.
11. "Valley of Grace by Marion Halligan". National Library of Australia. Retrieved 18 June 2024.
12. "Pescador's Wake by Katherine Johnson". National Library of Australia. Retrieved 18 June 2024.
13. "The Marriage Club by Kate Legge". National Library of Australia. Retrieved 18 June 2024.
14. "The Diamond Anchor by Jennifer Mills". National Library of Australia. Retrieved 18 June 2024.
15. "The Virtuoso by Sonia Orchard". National Library of Australia. Retrieved 18 June 2024.
16. "Headlong by Susan Varga". National Library of Australia. Retrieved 18 June 2024.
17. "Krakatoa Lighthouse by Allan Baillie". National Library of Australia. Retrieved 22 May 2024.
18. "Girl Next Door by Alyssa Brugman". National Library of Australia. Retrieved 22 May 2024.
19. "The Winds of Heaven by Judith Clarke". National Library of Australia. Retrieved 22 May 2024.
20. "The Nest by Paul Jennings". National Library of Australia. Retrieved 22 May 2024.
21. "The Madman of Venice by Sophie Masson". National Library of Australia. Retrieved 22 May 2024.
22. "Jarvis 24 by David Metzenthen". National Library of Australia. Retrieved 22 May 2024.
23. "The Lucky Ones by Tohby Riddle". National Library of Australia. Retrieved 22 May 2024.
24. "The Scarecrow by Sean Williams". National Library of Australia. Retrieved 22 May 2024.
25. "High Noon in Nimbin by Robert G. Barrett". National Library of Australia. Retrieved 18 June 2024.
26. "Move to Strike by Sydney Bauer". National Library of Australia. Retrieved 18 June 2024.
27. "The Iron Heart by Marshall Browne". National Library of Australia. Retrieved 18 June 2024.
28. "Blood Born by Kathryn Fox". National Library of Australia. Retrieved 18 June 2024.
29. "Black Ice by Leah Giarratano". National Library of Australia. Retrieved 18 June 2024.
30. "Dark Country by Bronwyn Parry". National Library of Australia. Retrieved 18 June 2024.
31. "The Aristocrat and The Single Mom by Michelle Douglas". Austlit. Retrieved 23 June 2024.
32. "Two Weeks in the Magnate's Bed by Nicola Marsh". National Library of Australia. Retrieved 23 June 2024.
33. "The Hunter's Wife by Katherine Scholes". National Library of Australia. Retrieved 23 June 2024.
34. "Valente's Baby by Maxine Sullivan". National Library of Australia. Retrieved 23 June 2024.
35. "The Spell of Rosette by Kim Falconer". ISFDB. Retrieved 17 May 2024.
36. "Full Circle by Pamela Freeman". ISFDB. Retrieved 17 May 2024.
37. "Being of the Field by Traci Harding". ISFDB. Retrieved 17 May 2024.
38. "Shadow Queen by Deborah Kalin". ISFDB. Retrieved 17 May 2024.
39. "The Last Stormlord by Glenda Larke". ISFDB. Retrieved 17 May 2024.
40. "Heart's Blood by Juliet Marillier". ISFDB. Retrieved 17 May 2024.
41. "The Dark Griffin by K. J. Taylor". ISFDB. Retrieved 17 May 2024.
42. "The Grand Conjunction by Sean Williams". ISFDB. Retrieved 17 May 2024.
43. "The Dark Room by Angela Betzien". Austlit. Retrieved 23 July 2024.
44. "Poor Boy by Matt Cameron & Tim Finn". Austlit. Retrieved 23 July 2024.
45. "Rockabye by Joanna Murray-Smith". Austlit. Retrieved 23 July 2024.
46. "The Book of Everything by Richard Tulloch". Austlit. Retrieved 23 July 2024.
47. "Let the Sunshine by David Williamson". Austlit. Retrieved 23 July 2024.
48. "The Darwin Poems by Emily Ballou". National Library of Australia. Retrieved 23 July 2024.
49. "Storm and Honey by Judith Beveridge". National Library of Australia. Retrieved 23 July 2024.
50. "The Striped World by Emma Jones". National Library of Australia. Retrieved 23 July 2024.
51. "Pirate Rain by Jennifer Maiden". National Library of Australia. Retrieved 23 July 2024.
52. "The Bee Hut by Dorothy Porter". National Library of Australia. Retrieved 23 July 2024.
53. "Better Than God by Peter Porter". National Library of Australia. Retrieved 23 July 2024.
54. "Boy He Cry: An Island Odyssey by Roger Averill". National Library of Australia. Retrieved 22 June 2024.
55. "Will It Be Funny Tomorrow, Billy? by Stephen Cummings". National Library of Australia. Retrieved 22 June 2024.
56. "The Making of Julia Gillard by Jacqueline Kent". National Library of Australia. Retrieved 22 June 2024.
57. "Harry M Miller: Confessions of a Not-So-Secret Agent by Harry M. Miller with Peter Holder". National Library of Australia. Retrieved 22 June 2024.
58. "Shots by Don Walker". National Library of Australia. Retrieved 22 June 2024.
59. "Choir Man by Jonathon Welch". National Library of Australia. Retrieved 22 June 2024.
60. "The Ghost at the Wedding by Shirley Walker". National Library of Australia. Retrieved 22 June 2024.
61. "Leo 'Rumpole' McKern: An Accidental Actor by George Whaley". National Library of Australia. Retrieved 22 June 2024.
62. "David Williamson: Behind the Scenes by Kristin Williamson". National Library of Australia. Retrieved 22 June 2024.
63. "Austlit — FAW Christopher Brennan Award". Austlit. Retrieved 11 September 2023.
64. "Austlit — Melbourne Prize". Austlit. Retrieved 9 November 2023.
65. "Farmer wins literary award". Theage.com.au. 7 November 2009. Retrieved 10 September 2023.
66. Steger, Jason (22 August 2009). "Apocalyptic novel wins book of the year". The Age. Archived from the original on 15 August 2022. Retrieved 26 February 2024.
67. "ALS Gold Medal — Previous Winners". Association for the Study of Australian Literature. Retrieved 13 January 2024.
68. "Colin Roderick Award — Other Winners". James Cook University. Retrieved 2 February 2024.
69. ""Indie Book Awards - Winners 2012 & prior"". Australian Independent Booksellers. Retrieved 12 March 2024.
70. "Kibble Literary Award". Australian National University. 9 June 2009. Retrieved 9 March 2024.
71. Flood, Alison (18 May 2009). "Australian takes Commonwealth writers' prize". The Guardian. Retrieved 18 January 2024.
72. "Adelaide Festival Awards for Literature – Past Literary Award Winners". State Library of South Australia. Retrieved 18 April 2024.
73. Steger, Jason (22 August 2009). "Apocalyptic novel wins book of the year". The Age. Archived from the original on 15 August 2022. Retrieved 15 February 2024.
74. ""Austlit – Australian/Vogel Award 2009-2012"". Austlit. Retrieved 19 February 2024.
75. ""Barbara Jefferis Award"". Australian Society of Authors. Retrieved 20 January 2024.
76. "Tim Winton wins fourth Miles Franklin award". The Guardian. 18 June 2009. Retrieved 21 September 2023.
77. ""Prime Minister's Literary Awards - Shortlist and winners: 2021-2008"". Creative Australia. Retrieved 11 January 2024.
78. ""The NSW Premier's Literary Awards 2009"". Parra Reeds, 20 May 2009. Retrieved 16 January 2025.
79. ""LibraryThing: Davitt Awards 2009"". LibraryThing. Retrieved 23 January 2024.
80. "2009 Ned Kelly Award Winners". Australian Crime Writers. Archived from the original on 27 March 2016. Retrieved 23 January 2024.
81. ""SFADB : World Fantasy Awards 2009"". SFADB. Retrieved 18 June 2024.
82. "SFADB: Ditmar Awards 2009"". SFADB. Retrieved 18 June 2024.
83. "Austlit — Anne Eldr Award (2008-2010)". Austlit. Retrieved 28 February 2024.
84. "Austlit — Grace Leven Poetry prize (2008-2012)". Austlit. Retrieved 28 February 2024.
85. "Mary Gilmore Award". Association for the Study of Australian Literature. Retrieved 29 February 2024.
86. ""National Biography Award – Past Winners"". State Library of NSW. Retrieved 1 August 2024.
87. "Val Vallis (1916-2009)". AustLit: Discover Australian Stories. The University of Queensland. Retrieved 16 September 2023.
88. "Geoffrey C. Bingham (1919-2009)". AustLit: Discover Australian Stories. The University of Queensland. Retrieved 19 September 2023.
89. "Frank Devine (1931-2009)". Austlit. Retrieved 17 May 2024.
90. "Catherine Gaskin (1929-2009)". AustLit: Discover Australian Stories. The University of Queensland. Retrieved 19 October 2023.
91. "Rica Erikson (1908-2009)". Austlit. Retrieved 17 May 2024.
92. "John West (1951-2009)". Austlit. Retrieved 17 May 2024.

Note: all references relating to awards can, or should be, found on the relevant award's page.