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Literature and writing

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Text in a retro font reading '1975 Living in the Seventies' on a bright orange background
1975: Living in the Seventies

Look back on life in the 70s including politics, feminism, pop culture, news of the day, and more.

Exhibition
Part of the cover of children's book 'The Legend of Jessie Hickman' featuring a woman sitting on a horse, which is standing on its back legs, holding her hat up
On writing 'The Legend of Jessie Hickman'

Author Mark Greenwood shares his process of writing NLA Publishing children’s title The Legend of Jessie Hickman.

NLA Publishing book
Etching of mythical sea creatures and a figure preparing to jump into the sea

Britomartis jumps into the sea, image courtesy Lorna Hutson

England's 'island nationhood?' with Professor Lorna Hutson

Professor Lorna Hutson examines early modern legal and poetic texts to explore the concept of England's 'island nationhood'.

Event
Prof. John Morrissey, 2025 National Library of Australia Stokes Fellow leaning on a table in one of the reading rooms.

Prof. John Morrissey, 2025 National Library of Australia Stokes Fellow

Human life in a wider ecosystem: Judith Wright and environmental action

Learn about 2025 National Library of Australia Fellow John Morrissey's research into poet and environmentalist Judith Wright. 

Blog
A black and white portrait in profile of Charles Dickens, alongside a blue book cover featuring two illustrated cats

G.W. Wilson & Co, Portrait of Charles Dickens, c.1870, nla.obj-142385853; and book cover, Great Writers & The Cats Who Owned Them, by Susannah Fullerton

Author talk: Great Writers & the Cats Who Owned Them

Susannah Fullerton discusses her newest book Great Writers & the Cats Who Owned Them.

Event
Guy Hansen holding a book in the 1975 exhibition gallery

Dr Guy Hansen in the 1975: Living in the Seventies exhibition gallery

Learn with the curators of 1975: Living in the Seventies

Discover new stories held within our collection and build on conversations steeped in nostalgia, curiosity and transformation. 

Learning activity for adults
Video
Book cover with the title 'This is Us' in large white text, the subtitle 'Essential Australian Poems for Young People' is red text and illustrations of Australian children on an orange background
This Is Us: Essential Australian Poems for Young People

Libby Hathorn and Jude Fell

Book
bronze cast of Henry Lawson's hand

Nelson Illingworth, Cast of Henry Lawson's hand, ca. 1922 [realia], nla.gov.au/nla.obj-139632985

The poet of Australia

Topic

Henry Lawson is celebrated as one of Australia’s greatest poets. 

Digital Classroom
Collection guide
Jensen Collection

553 books from the 19th to mid-20th century with a particular strength in botany and gardening, among many other subjects.

Collection guide
Collection guide
Jamieson Collection

About 360 titles, particularly strong in first editions of English poetry and novels published in the nineteenth century and early twentieth century.

Collection guide
Title page of a landscape oriented printed book: ornate engraving featuring musical performers. Scene is framed by theatre curtains.

James Hook, Guida di Musica: Being a Complete Book of Instructions for Beginners on the Harpsichord or Piano Forte, nla.gov.au/nla.cat-vn8650184

Kassler Collection

Books on music and printed music published in Britain from the mid-17th century to the 20th century.

Collection guide
Collection guide
Holmes Collection

Books, pamphlets, broadsides, posters, periodicals, newspapers and some manuscripts mostly relating to Federation and political and constitutional history.

Collection guide

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