Literature and writing | National Library of Australia (NLA)

Literature and writing

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Collection guide
Australian Literature Society Collection

Explore Australia's literary heritage with the Australian Literature Society Collection. Home to over 500 works, including novels, verse, and essays, it showcases iconic authors like Patrick White, Joseph Furphy, and Kylie Tennant. Founded in 1899, this collection highlights the society's crucial role in shaping Australia’s vibrant literary tradition.

Collection guide
Collection guide
Lowenstein Collection

Oral history recordings, manuscripts and papers relating mainly to Australian folklore and Lowenstein's books Weevils in the flour and Under the hook.

Collection guide
Collection guide
Mackaness Collection

Literary manuscripts submitted to the Bulletin in 1918–20, personal papers, 185 books related to Australia, some very rare, plus 30 books published in Tahiti by the London Missionary Society in 1817–37.

Collection guide
Collection guide
Stead Collection

Papers of Christina Stead including diaries, manuscripts of her works, correspondence, personal documents, cuttings and photographs as well as papers of her biographers.

Collection guide
Muted oil painting of a short dark haired woman wearing a yellow scarf and light blue shirt.

 Rupert Bunny, Portrait of Henry Handel Richardson, (192-?), nla.gov.au/nla.obj-134317179

Richardson Collection

Extensive personal and family papers of Henry Handel Richardson (Pseudonym of Ethel Florence Lindesay Robertson (née Richardson)). The Richardson Collection also includes original manuscripts of the music composed by Richardson for many songs.

Collection guide
Five differently-colour books laid out in a row, all published by Penguin Random House and featuring their well known cover design

Selection of books from the Overton Collection

Overton Collection

4,000 books published by Penguin and its related imprints from 1935 to 1964.

Collection guide
Collection guide
Palmer Collection

Personal papers including correspondence, manuscripts of books, newspaper articles, lectures and material concerning writers, artists and literary organisations as well as about 2500 books published from 1900 to 1960, many inscribed by the authors and is particularly strong in novels, poetry and history.

Collection guide
Collection guide
Pelli Collection

A collection of approximately 1,225 books published in France from the 17th to 20th centuries, including works by major, popular, and lesser-known authors.

Collection guide
Collection guide
Pickering Collection

About 440 books published by William Pickering between 1820 and 1854 including reprints of classics and 17th-century Anglican religious works, plus contemporary writers of his time.

Collection guide
Collection guide
Prance Collection

975 books, including many relating to the essayist and poet Charles Lamb and his circle and books by or relating to the poet Edward Thomas.

Collection guide
Collection guide
Sargent Collection

1,066 Japanese books, nearly all published in the 20th century. They mostly relate to Japanese literature and include a large number of novels and also poetry, plays, essays, biographies of writers, literary history and critical works.

Collection guide
Collection guide
Simon Collection

3,300 books and serial issues in a range of languages relating to Asian and European literature, politics, history, religion and more. 

Collection guide

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