''The Age'' Book of the Year Awards were annual literary awards presented by

Melbourne Melbourne ( ; Boonwurrung/ Woiwurrung: ''Narrm'' or ''Naarm'') is the capital and most populous city of the Australian state of Victoria, and the second-most populous city in both Australia and Oceania. Its name generally refers to a metro ...

's ''

The Age ''The Age'' is a daily newspaper in Melbourne, Australia, that has been published since 1854. Owned and published by Nine Entertainment, ''The Age'' primarily serves Victoria (Australia), Victoria, but copies also sell in Tasmania, the Austral ...

'' newspaper. The awards were first presented in 1974. After 1998, they were presented as part of the Melbourne Writers Festival. Initially, two awards were given, one for fiction (or imaginative writing), the other for non-fiction work, but in 1993, a poetry award in honour of Dinny O'Hearn was added.Wilde et al. (1994) p. 23 The criteria were that the works be "of outstanding literary merit and express Australian identity or character", and be published in the year before the award was made. One of the award-winners was chosen as The Age Book of the Year. The awards were discontinued in 2013. In 2021 The Age Book of the Year was revived as a fiction prize, with the winner announced at the Melbourne Writers Festival.

''The Age'' Book of the Year

(Years link to corresponding " earin literature" or " earin Australian literature" articles.) *2021: ''The Rain Heron'' by Robbie Arnott *2012: ''1835: The Founding of Melbourne & The Conquest of Australia'' by James BoyceThe Words That Count
/ref> *2011: ''

Indelible Ink ''Indelible'' is the fourth book in the Grant County series by author Karin Slaughter. It was originally released in hardback in 2004. Previous books in the series are ''Blindsighted'', ''Kisscut'', and ''A Faint Cold Fear''. These books star Sar ...

'' by Fiona McGregor"Winning Words" by Jason Steger ''The Age'', 27 August 2011
/ref> *2010: '' Lovesong'' by Alex Miller'Simple love story' wins Age award
/ref> *2009: ''Things We Didn't See Coming'' by Steven AmsterdamSteger, Jason (2009) "Apocalyptic novel wins book of the year" in ''theage.com.au'', 22 August 2009
/ref> *2008: ''American Journeys'' by

Don Watson Don Watson (born 1949) is an Australian author, screenwriter, former political adviser, and speechwriter. Early life Watson was born in 1949 at Warragul in the Gippsland region of Victoria, and grew up on a farm in nearby Korumburra. Academia ...

Steger, Jason (2008) "US travel memoir wins Age Book of the Year Award" in ''theage.com.au'', 2008-08-23
/ref> *2007: ''Colonial Ambition: Foundations of Australian Democracy'' by Peter CochraneCassin, Ray (2007) "Entitled to tell a story" in ''theage.com.au'', 2007-08-25
/ref> *2006: ''Friendly Fire'' by

Jennifer Maiden Jennifer Maiden (born 1949) is an Australian poet. She was born in Penrith, New South Wales, and has had 36 books published: 28 poetry collections, 6 novels and 2 nonfiction works. Her current publishers are Quemar Press in Australia and Blooda ...

Poet of the political takes Age Book of the Year prize
/ref> *2005: ''Plenty: Digressions on Food'' by Gay BilsonMore than restaurants
/ref> *2004: ''Totem'' by

Luke Davies Luke Davies (born 1962) is an Australian writer of poetry, novels and screenplays. His best known works are '' Candy: A Novel of Love and Addiction'' (which was adapted for the screen in 2006) and the screenplay for the film '' Lion'', which e ...

Totem wins The Age Book of the Year
/ref> *2003: ''

Of a Boy ''Of a Boy'' (''What The Birds See'' in the UK and US) is a 2002 novel by Sonya Hartnett about a lonely and troubled youth. The omnipresent narrator follows the plight of nine-year-old Adrian in his suburban life in 1977. At age eight, his parents ...

'' by Sonya HartnettThe Austlit Gateway News September/October 2003
/ref> *2002: ''Recollections of a Bleeding Heart: Paul Keating PM'' by

*2001: ''Untold Lives and Later Poems'' by Rosemary Dobson"The Age" 25 August 2001, p12 *2000: ''Isobel on the Way to the Corner Shop'' by Amy Witting *1999: ''Sacred Places: War Memorials in the Australian Landscape'' by K.S. Inglis"The Age" 14 August 1999, Sat Extra p9 *1998: '' Three Dollars'' by

Elliot Perlman Elliot Perlman (born 7 May 1964) is an Australian author and barrister. He has written four novels (''Three Dollars'', '' Seven Types of Ambiguity'', ''The Street Sweeper'' and ''Maybe the Horse Will Talk''), one short story collection (''The Re ...

*1997: '' Jack Maggs'' by Peter Carey *1996: ''

The Multiple Effects of Rainshadow ''The Multiple Effects of Rainshadow'' (1996) is Thea Astley's second to last novel. It won The Age Book of the Year in 1996, and was shortlisted for the 1997 Miles Franklin Award. Plot summary The novel is based on a violent event that took p ...

'' by Thea Astley *1995: '' The Future Eaters'' by

Tim Flannery Timothy Fridtjof Flannery (born 28 January 1956) is an Australian mammalogist, palaeontologist, environmentalist, conservationist, explorer, author, science communicator, activist and public scientist. He was awarded Australian of the Yea ...

*1994: ''

The Unusual Life of Tristan Smith ''The Unusual Life of Tristan Smith'' is a novel by the Australian writer Peter Carey. It was first published by the University of Queensland Press in Australia and Faber & Faber in the United Kingdom in 1994. Subsequent editions and transla ...

'' by Peter Carey *1993: ''The George's Wife'' by Elizabeth Jolley *1992: ''Lover's Knots'' by

Marion Halligan Marion Mildred Halligan AM (born 1940) is an Australian writer and novelist. She was born and educated in Newcastle, New South Wales, and worked as a school teacher and journalist before publishing her first short stories. Halligan has served a ...

*1991: ''Patrick White: A Life'' by David Marr *1990: ''Blessed City'' by

Gwen Harwood Gwen Harwood (née Gwendoline Nessie Foster, 8 June 19205 December 1995) was an Australian poet and librettist. Harwood is regarded as one of Australia's finest poets, publishing over 420 works, including 386 poems and 13 librettos. She won nu ...

*1989: ''Mariners are Warned: John Lort Stokes and HMA Beagle'' by Marsden Hordern *1988: ''Forty-Seventeen'' by Frank Moorhouse"The Age" 9 December 1988, p14 *1987: ''Stories from the Warm Zone'' by Jessica Anderson *1986: ''Sister Ships'' by Joan London *1985: ''

Illywhacker ''Illywhacker'' is a novel by Australian writer Peter Carey. It was published in 1985 to commercial and critical success, winning a number of awards and being short-listed for the Booker Prize. Considered metafiction or magical realism, the ...

'' by Peter Carey *1984: ''The Bellarmine Jug'' by

Nicholas Hasluck Nicholas Paul Hasluck AM (born 17 October 1942) is an Australian novelist, poet, short story writer, and former judge. Early life Nicholas Hasluck was born in Canberra. His father, Sir Paul Hasluck was a minister in the Federal Government u ...

*1983: ''Mr Scobie's Riddle'' by Elizabeth Jolley *1982: ''

Fly Away Peter ''Fly Away Peter'' is a 1982 novel by Australian author David Malouf. It won The Age Book of the Year award in 1982, and is often studied at senior level in Australian high schools. Plot summary ''Fly Away Peter'' is an Australian novel set ...

'' by

David Malouf David George Joseph Malouf AO (; born 20 March 1934) is an Australian poet, novelist, short story writer, playwright and librettist. Elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature in 2008, Malouf has lectured at both the University of Quee ...

*1980: Joint winners :::'' A Woman of the Future'' by David Ireland :::'' Homesickness'' by

Murray Bail Murray Bail (born 22 September 1941) is an Australian writer of novels, short stories and non-fiction. In 1980 he shared the Age Book of the Year award for his novel ''Homesickness.'' He was born in Adelaide, South Australia. He has lived mos ...

*1979: '' 1915'' by

Roger McDonald Hugh Roger McDonald (born 23 June 1941 in Young, New South Wales) is an Australian award-winning author of several novels and a number of non-fiction works. He is also an accomplished poet and TV scriptwriter. Life and career The middle son of ...

*1978: '' The Year of Living Dangerously'' by Christopher Koch *1976: ''A Late Picking'' by

A. D. Hope Alec Derwent Hope (21 July 190713 July 2000) was an Australian poet and essayist known for his satirical slant. He was also a critic, teacher and academic. He was referred to in an American journal as "the 20th century's greatest 18th-century ...

*1975: '' A Kindness Cup'' by Thea Astley *1974: ''

The Pure Land ''The Pure Land'' is a novel written by David Foster. The novel was published in 1974, and was Foster's first. It was the winner of the first The Age Book of the Year award. It is divided into four parts. Part One is set in 1930s Katoomba, New ...

'' by David Foster

Fiction (or Imaginative Writing) Award

(Years link to corresponding " earin literature".) *2012: ''

Foal's Bread ''Foal's Bread'' is a 2011 novel by Australian author Gillian Mears. It was the winner of the 2012 ALS Gold Medal, the Age Book of the Year for Fiction, the Prime Minister's Literary Award for Fiction, and the Victorian Premier's Literary Award ...

'' by

Gillian Mears Gillian Mears (21 July 1964 – 16 May 2016) was an Australian short story writer and novelist. Her books ''Ride a Cock Horse'' and ''The Grass Sister'' won a Commonwealth Writers' Prize, shortlist, in 1989 and 1996, respectively. ''The Mint Law ...

*2011: ''

'' by Fiona McGregor *2010: '' Lovesong'' by Alex Miller *2009: ''Things We Didn't See Coming'' by Steven Amsterdam *2008: ''

Breath Breathing (or ventilation) is the process of moving air into and from the lungs to facilitate gas exchange with the internal environment, mostly to flush out carbon dioxide and bring in oxygen. All aerobic creatures need oxygen for cellu ...

'' by Tim Winton *2007: ''Every Move You Make'' by

*2006: '' Dead Europe'' by Christos Tsiolkas *2005: '' Sixty Lights'' by Gail Jones *2004: ''

The White Earth ''The White Earth'' is a 2004 novel by Australian author Andrew McGahan. The book won the 2005 Miles Franklin Award. The stage version, adapted by McGahan and Shaun Charles, premiered at Brisbane's La Boite Theatre in February–March 2009. Pl ...

'' by

Andrew McGahan Andrew McGahan (10 October 1966 – 1 February 2019) was an Australian novelist, best known for his first novel ''Praise'', and for his Miles Franklin Award-winning novel '' The White Earth''. His novel ''Praise'' is considered to be part of t ...

*2003: ''

'' by Sonya Hartnett *2002: ''

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 Assy ...

'' by Joan London *2001: '' True History of the Kelly Gang'' by Peter Carey *2000: ''Isobel on the Way to the Corner Shop'' by Amy Witting *1999: ''The Deep Field'' by James Bradley *1998: '' Three Dollars'' by

*1997: '' Jack Maggs'' by Peter Carey *1996: ''

'' by Thea Astley *1995: ''Billy Sunday'' by Rod Jones *1994: ''

'' by Peter Carey *1993: ''The George's Wife'' by Elizabeth Jolley *1992: ''Lover's Knots'' by

*1991: '' Double-Wolf'' by Brian Castro *1990: '' Longleg'' by

Glenda Adams Glenda Emilie Adams (née Felton; 30 December 1939 – 11 July 2007) was an Australian novelist and short story writer, probably best known as the winner of the 1987 Miles Franklin Award for ''Dancing on Coral''. She was a teacher of creative w ...

*1989: ''My Father's Moon'' by Elizabeth Jolley *1988: ''Forty-Seventeen'' by Frank Moorhouse *1987: ''Stories from the Warm Zone'' by Jessica Anderson *1986: ''Sister Ships'' by Joan London *1985: ''

'' by Peter Carey *1984: ''The Bellarmine Jug'' by

*1983: ''Mr Scobie's Riddle'' by Elizabeth Jolley *1982: ''

'' by

*1981: ''Turtle Beach'' by

Blanche d'Alpuget Josephine Blanche d'Alpuget (born 3 January 1944) is an Australian writer and the second wife of Bob Hawke, the longest-serving Labor Prime Minister of Australia. Background and early career D'Alpuget is the only child of Josephine Curgenven a ...

*1980: Joint winners :::'' A Woman of the Future'' by David Ireland :::''Homesickness'' by

*1979: '' 1915'' by

*1978: '' The Year of Living Dangerously'' by Christopher Koch *1976: ''A Late Picking'' by

*1975: '' A Kindness Cup'' by Thea Astley *1974: ''

'' by David Foster

Non-fiction Award

*2012: ''1835: The Founding of Melbourne & The Conquest of Australia'' by James Boyce *2011: ''A Three-Cornered Life'' by Jim Davidson *2010: ''Ten Hail Marys'' by Kate Howarth *2009: ''Down to the Crossroads'' by Guy Rundle *2008: ''American Journeys'' by

*2007: ''Colonial Ambition: Foundations of Australian Democracy'' by Peter Cochrane *2006: ''Velocity'' by

Mandy Sayer Mandy Sayer (born 1963) is an Australian novelist and narrative non-fiction writer. She was born in 1963 in the Sydney suburb of Marrickville, the third of three children. She began writing poetry and stories at the age of six. Her parents separ ...

*2005: ''Plenty: Digressions on Food'' by Gay Bilson *2004: ''A Death in Brazil'' by Peter Robb *2003: ''Charles Condor: The Last Bohemian'' by Ann Galbally *2002: ''Recollections of a Bleeding Heart: Paul Keating Prime Minister'' by

*2001: ''The Life and Myth of Charmian Clift'' by

Nadia Wheatley Nadia Wheatley is an Australian writer whose work includes picture books, novels, biography and history. Perhaps best known for her classic picture book ''My Place'' (illustrated by Donna Rawlins), the author's biography of Charmian Clift was ...

*2000: ''Craft for a Dry Lake'' by Kim Mahood *1999: ''Sacred Places: War Memorials in the Australian Landscape'' by K.S. Inglis *1998: ''The Hunt'' by John Kinsella *1997: ''Snake Cradle'' by Roberta Sykes *1995: ''The Future Eaters'' by

*1994: ''Lyrebird Rising'' by Jim Davidson *1993: ''Journeyings'' by Janet McCalman *1992: ''A Fence Around the Cuckoo'' by Ruth Park *1991: ''Patrick White: A Life'' by David Marr *1990: ''Blessed City'' by

*1989: ''Mariners are Warned: John Lort Stokes and HMA Beagle'' by Marsden Hordern *1988: ''Big-Noting: The Heroic Theme in Australian War Writing'' by Robin Gerster *1987: '' The Fatal Shore'' by Robert Hughes *1986: ''George Johnston: A Biography'' by Garry Kinnane *1985: ''Vietnam: A Reporter's War'' by Hugh Lunn; ''Mapping the Paddocks'' by Chester Eagle *1984: ''HB Higgins: The Rebel and Judge'' by John Rickard *1983: ''History of Tasmania'' by Lloyd Robson *1982: ''John Monash: A Biography'' by Geoffrey Serle *1981: ''

A Million Wild Acres ''A Million Wild Acres: 200 years of man and an Australian forest'' is a non-fiction book written by Eric Charles Rolls (1923–2007). It was first published in Melbourne by Thomas Nelson in 1981. ''A Million Wild Acres'' is not just a regiona ...

'' by Eric Charles Rolls *1978: ''The Anzacs'' by

Patsy Adam-Smith Patricia Jean Adam-Smith, (31 May 1924 – 20 September 2001) was an Australian author, historian and servicewoman. She was a prolific writer on a range of subjects covering history, folklore and the preservation of national traditions,Adelaid ...

*1976: ''Capitalism, Socialism and the Environment'' by Hugh Stretton *1974: ''A History of Australia (Vol. 3)'' by

Manning Clark Charles Manning Hope Clark, (3 March 1915 – 23 May 1991) was an Australian historian and the author of the best-known general history of Australia, his six-volume ''A History of Australia'', published between 1962 and 1987. He has been descr ...

Dinny O'Hearn Poetry Prize

(Years link to corresponding " earin poetry" articles.) *2012: ''The Brokenness Sonnets I-III And Other Poems'' by Mal McKimmie *2011: ''Starlight: 150 Poems'' by John Tranter *2010: ''Pirate Rain'' by

*2009: ''Better Than God'' by Peter Porter *2008: ''Not Finding Wittgenstein'' by

J. S. Harry J. S. Harry or Jan Harry (4 January 1939 – 20 May 2015) was an Australian poet described as "one of Australian poetry’s keenest satirists, political and social commentators, and perhaps its most ethical agent and antagonist." J. S. Harry was ...

*2007: ''The Goldfinches of Baghdad'' by Robert Adamson *2006: ''Friendly Fire'' by

*2005: ''The Colosseum'' by

Dipti Saravanamuttu Dipti Saravanamuttu (born 1960) is a contemporary Sri Lankan-Australian poet and academic. Dipti Saravanamuttu was born in Sri Lanka and arrived in Australia with her family in 1972. After studying English at Sydney University, apart from ...

*2004: ''Totem'' by

*2003: ''Mangroves'' by Laurie Duggan *2002: ''After Images'' by Robert Gray *2001: ''Untold Lives and Later Poems'' by Rosemary Dobson *2000: ''Empty Texas'' by Peter Minter *1999: ''The Impossible, and other Poems'' by R. A. Simpson *1998: ''The Hunt and Other Poems'' by John Kinsella *1997: Joint winners :::''Dragons in their Pleasant Places'' by Peter Porter :::''The Wild Reply'' by

Emma Lew Emma Lew (born 1962) is a contemporary Australian poet. Born in Melbourne, Emma Lew studied arts at Melbourne University and worked as a deckhand, shop assistant, proof-reader, and clerical assistant, only beginning to write poetry in 1993.

*1996: ''Weeping for Lost Babylon'' by

Eric Beach Eric Beach (born 1947), is a New Zealand and Australian poet, playwright, and short story writer. Born in New Zealand, Beach has lived in Tasmania and in Victoria since 1972. He is active in the Australian Performance Poetry scene, performing ...

*1995: ''Selected poems 1956–1994'' by Chris Wallace-Crabbe *1994: '' The Monkey's Mask'' by

Dorothy Porter Dorothy Featherstone Porter (26 March 1954 – 10 December 2008) was an Australian poet. She was a recipient of the Christopher Brennan Award for lifetime achievement in poetry. Early life Porter was born in Sydney. Her father was barrister ...

*1993: ''At the Florida'' by John Tranter

First Book

*2005: ''The Unknown Zone'' by Phil SmithReview
/ref>

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Age Book of the Year Australian fiction awards Australian poetry awards Awards established in 1974 1974 establishments in Australia