Joan Elizabeth London (born 1948) is an Australian author of short stories, screenplays and novels.

Biography

She graduated from the

University of Western Australia The University of Western Australia (UWA) is a public research university in the Australian state of Western Australia. The university's main campus is in Perth, the state capital, with a secondary campus in Albany, Western Australia, Albany an ...

having studied English and French, has taught English as a second language and is a bookseller. She lives in

Fremantle Fremantle () () is a port city in Western Australia, located at the mouth of the Swan River in the metropolitan area of Perth, the state capital. Fremantle Harbour serves as the port of Perth. The Western Australian vernacular diminutive for ...

, Western Australia. London is the author of two collections of stories. The first, ''Sister Ships'', won The Age Book of the Year (1986), and the second, ''Letter to Constantine'', won the

Steele Rudd Award The Queensland Premier's Literary Awards were an Australian suite of literary awards inaugurated in 1999 and disestablished in 2012. It was one of the most generous suites of literary awards within Australia, with $225,000 in prize money across ...

and the West Australian Premier's Award for Fiction (both in 1994). The two were published together as ''The New Dark Age''. She has published three novels, ''

Gilgamesh sux, , label=none , image = Hero lion Dur-Sharrukin Louvre AO19862.jpg , alt = , caption = Possible representation of Gilgamesh as Master of Animals, grasping a lion in his left arm and snake in his right hand, in an Assyr ...

'', ''

The Good Parents ''The Good Parents'' is the second full-length novel written by Joan London. It was first published in 2008. The book concerns an eighteen-year-old girl, Maya de Jong, who moves to Melbourne and becomes involved in a relationship with her boss. ...

'' and '' The Golden Age''. She was awarded the

Patrick White Award The Patrick White Award is an annual literary prize established by Patrick White. White used his 1973 Nobel Prize in Literature award to establish a trust for this prize. The $25,000 cash award is given to a writer who has been highly creative o ...

and the

Nita Kibble Literary Award The Kibble Literary Awards comprise two awards—the Nita B Kibble Literary Award, which recognises the work of an established Australian female writer, and the Dobbie Literary Award, which is for a first published work by a female writer. The Awar ...

in 2015.

Bibliography

Short stories

*''Sister Ships'' (1986) *''Letter to Constantine'' (1993) *''New Dark Age'' (2004)

Novels

*''

'' (2001) *''

'' (2008) *'' The Golden Age'' (2014)

Critical studies and reviews of London's work

* Review of ''The Golden Age''. *Book Review (15 June 2016).''

Kirkus Reviews ''Kirkus Reviews'' (or ''Kirkus Media'') is an American book review magazine founded in 1933 by Virginia Kirkus (1893–1980). The magazine is headquartered in New York City. ''Kirkus Reviews'' confers the annual Kirkus Prize to authors of fic ...

''. Review of ''The Golden Age''.

Awards and nominations

* 1986:

The Age Book of the Year ''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 awar ...

Book of the Year and Fiction Award for ''Sister Ships'' * 1986: Western Australia Week Literary Award for ''Sister Ships'' * 1994:

for ''Letter to Constantine'' * 1994:

Western Australian Premier's Book Awards The Western Australian Premier's Book Awards is an annual book award provided by the Government of Western Australia, and managed by the State Library of Western Australia. History and format Annual literary awards were inaugurated by the Wes ...

for ''Letter to Constantine'' * 2002:

Fiction Award for ''Gilgamesh'' * 2002:

Miles Franklin Award The Miles Franklin Literary Award is an annual literary prize awarded to "a novel which is of the highest literary merit and presents Australian life in any of its phases". The award was set up according to the will of Miles Franklin (1879–195 ...

Shortlisted for ''Gilgamesh'' * 2002:

New South Wales Premier's Literary Awards The New South Wales Premier's Literary Awards, also known as the NSW Premier's Literary Awards, were first awarded in 1979. They are among the richest literary awards in Australia. Notable prizes include the Christina Stead Prize for Fiction, th ...

Shortlisted for ''Gilgamesh'' * 2003: Tasmania Pacific Rim Region Prize Shortlisted for ''Gilgamesh'' * 2009:

Christina Stead Prize for Fiction for ''

'' * 2015:

Prime Minister's Literary Award The Australian Prime Minister's Literary Awards (PMLA) were announced at the end of 2007 by the incoming First Rudd ministry following the 2007 election. They are administered by the Minister for the Arts.Patrick White Award The Patrick White Award is an annual literary prize established by Patrick White. White used his 1973 Nobel Prize in Literature award to establish a trust for this prize. The $25,000 cash award is given to a writer who has been highly creative o ...

* 2015:

for ''The Golden Age'' * 2015:

shortlisted for ''The Golden Age''

References

External links

Joan London at Random House AustraliaReview of ''The Golden Age'', with portrait