''Foal's Bread'' is a 2011

novel A novel is an extended work of narrative fiction usually written in prose and published as a book. The word derives from the for 'new', 'news', or 'short story (of something new)', itself from the , a singular noun use of the neuter plural of ...

by Australian author Gillian Mears. It was the winner of the 2012

ALS Gold Medal The Australian Literature Society Gold Medal (ALS Gold Medal) is awarded annually by the Association for the Study of Australian Literature for "an outstanding literary work in the preceding calendar year." From 1928 to 1974 it was awarded by the ...

, 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 Melbourne Writer ...

for Fiction, the

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 Australian federal election, 2007 election. They are administered by the Minister for the Arts (Aust ...

for Fiction, and the

Victorian Premier's Literary Award The Victorian Premier's Literary Awards were created by the Victorian Government with the aim of raising the profile of contemporary creative writing and Australia's publishing industry. As of 2013, it is reportedly Australia's richest literary ...

for Fiction. It was also shortlisted for the

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 (law), will of Miles Franklin ...

and the

Barbara Jefferis Award The Barbara Jefferis Award is an Australian literary award prize. The award was created in 2007 after being endowed by John Hinde upon his death to commemorate his late wife, author Barbara Jefferis. It is funded by his $1 million bequest. Origi ...

Plot summary

The main subject of the novel is the golden era of Australian show-jumping between the wars. Roley Nancarrow is the 1926 high jump record holder for New South Wales, and, while competing one day at a country show, is captivated by Noah Childs, a 14-year-old drover's daughter, who can coax tired old horses into extraordinary feats. Riding out in a storm one day, Nancarrow is struck by lightning. The novel examines his steady decline into paralysis from the lightning-strike and the effect this has on his horse-riding passion and relationship with Noah.

Awards

* 2011 winner

Colin Roderick Award The Colin Roderick Award is presented annually by the Foundation for Australian Literary Studies at Queensland's James Cook University for "the best book published in Australia which deals with any aspect of Australian life". It was first presente ...

* 2012 winner

Victorian Premier's Literary Awards The Victorian Premier's Literary Awards were created by the Victorian Government with the aim of raising the profile of contemporary creative writing and Australia's publishing industry. As of 2013, it is reportedly Australia's richest literary ...

— The Vance Palmer Prize for Fiction * 2012 winner

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 Melbourne Writer ...

— Fiction Prize * 2012 shortlisted Booksellers Choice Award * 2012 shortlisted

Indie Book Awards Book of the Year – Fiction The Indie Book Awards Book of the Year – Fiction is a prize category in the annual Indie Book Awards (Australia) presented by Australian Independent Booksellers. The award was established in 2008. Winners and shortlists References {{ ...

* 2012 winner

* 2012 shortlisted

Miles Franklin Literary 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 ...

* 2012 shortlisted Australian Book Industry Awards (ABIA) — Australian General Fiction Book of the Year * 2012 shortlisted Australian Book Industry Awards (ABIA) — Australian Book of the Year * 2012 shortlisted

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 Awa ...

* 2012 winner

Prime Minister's Literary Awards 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. * 2013 longlisted

International Dublin Literary Award The International Dublin Literary Award (), established as the International IMPAC Dublin Literary Award in 1996, is presented each year for a novel written or translated into English. It promotes excellence in world literature and is solely ...

* 2013 shortlisted

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 ...

— Christina Stead Prize for Fiction * 2014 shortlisted

Adelaide Festival Awards for Literature The South Australian Literary Awards, until 2024 known as the Adelaide Festival Awards for Literature, comprise a group of biennially-granted literary awards established in 1986 by the Government of South Australia. Formerly announced during A ...

— Award for Fiction

Notes

The novel carried the following dedication: "For my sister Yvonne." The novel carried the following epigraph: "Lameness is the language of pain, not a disease... A lame horse will often seem full of great silence and suffering." Harold Leeney, ''Home Doctoring of Animals'' (1927).

Reviews

* Australian Women's Studies Resource: "''Foal's Bread'', then, is not an easy or wholly rewarding read, yet it stays with you, and hauntingly so, for a long time after you finish the novel." * ''The Guardian'': "The bush country of New South Wales is a tough, unforgiving landscape and ''Foal's Bread'' turns out to be a tough, unforgiving book. But to her immense credit, Mears's account of a terrible illness never becomes self-pitying or sentimental, while her galloping prose thrums to the rhythm of some perfectly constructed sentences". * ''The Sydney Morning Herald'': "When a writer of the calibre of Gillian Mears publishes her first novel in 16 years, it's time to sit up straight and take note...''Foal's'' Bread is, gloriously, about horses and the people who are in thrall to them"."Vernacular at the gallop" by Helen Elliott, ''The Sydney Morning Herald'', 12 November 2011
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References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Foal's Bread 2011 Australian novels ALS Gold Medal–winning works Prime Minister's Literary Award-winning works The Age Book of the Year Awards – Fiction Award-winning works Allen & Unwin books Novels about horses Novels set in New South Wales