Culture
Books
Duchess of York to headline new Perth festival of bestselling authors
A new festival has been announced – in a surprising location, with an unexpected focus, and an even more unexpected guest headlining a star-studded lineup.
- by Emma Young
Latest
Literature and music in harmony in Kazuo Ishiguro’s new book
The Nobel Prize–winning author’s new book is a gorgeously illustrated volume of lyrics written for the jazz singer Stacey Kent.
- by Peter Craven
An intimate portrait of life – and death – as Joan Didion’s assistant
As an aspiring author in his 20s, Corey Leadbeater landed what should have been a dream gig as an assistant and confidante to the legendary American writer. But his own life was unravelling.
- by Nathan Smith
Amor Towles creates an alluring world in his noirish short stories
The author of A Gentleman In Moscow has written a collection of six stories set in the Golden Age of Hollywood, as well as an experimental novella.
- by Luke Slattery
‘I was bored - it was tedious’: How Deborah became a dealmaker for the stars
She’s been literary agent to a host of household names, but she started out in a less glamorous job.
- by Helen Pitt
Opinion
WordPlay
Umm-ahh! Whatever happened to this popular childhood taunt?
Once a playground staple, the story behind the uniquely Australian gibe remains a mystery.
- by David Astle
This novel offers a bold feminist reimagining of Australian history
Our reviewers cast their eyes over new fiction and non-fiction releases, including a novel that delves into the silencing and suppression of women’s stories and a biography of “the Barrier Reef’s first martyr”.
- by Cameron Woodhead and Fiona Capp
This tale of grief and sibling love is heartrending
Despite some crowded imagery, Kate Kruimink’s second novel explores a poignant struggle between sibling love and misunderstanding
- by Brooke Boland
Bestselling author of One Day on why his new novel is his funniest yet
Already a bestselling author, romcom specialist David Nicholls has a bigger readership than ever after the massive success of Netflix’s One Day adaptation.
- by Kylie Northover
The man who fought for a safer and fairer financial future
The story of Australian banker Ian Shepherd, who invented a system for the trading of derivatives, is as much about finance as it is about the very nature of ideas.
- by Pat Sheil
Myths, spin and outright lies: the truth behind the logging industry
Scientist David Lindenmayer confronts the entrenched myths around the Australian logging industry and our native tall forests.
- by Kurt Johnson