Literature and writing | National Library of Australia (NLA)

Literature and writing

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Author Mark McKenna standing in grass wearing a blue shirt, and book cover of The Shortest History of Australia
Book launch: The Shortest History of Australia

Renowned historian Mark McKenna sits down with Frank Bongiorno to discuss Mark's new book and how it came together.

Event
Cover of book 'Red Dust Running' by Anita Heiss next to a picture of Anita Heiss sitting on concrete steps smiling
Book launch: Red Dust Running with Anita Heiss

Anita Heiss discussed her new book 'Red Dust Running'.

Event
Video
cover of book 'Australian Dictionary of Biography'

(1966). Australian dictionary of biography. Melbourne : London ; New York : Melbourne University Press; Cambridge University Press https://adb.anu.edu.au

Biography research guide

A guide to finding biographies.

Research guide
Book cover for A Dream State and a headshot of author Eric Puchner
Author talk: Dream State by Eric Puchner

Join internationally acclaimed American novelist Eric Puchner for a special event focused on his new novel, Dream State.

Event
Reckoning by Magda Szubanski.png

Reckoning: A Memoir by Magda Szubanski

Australian pride histories and biographies: Recommendations from the National Library

Celebrate WorldPride with this diverse range of books about the LGBTQIA+ experience and culture.

Blog
Finding australian literature - sams bush journey

Morgan, Sally and Kwaymullina, Ezekiel, Sam's Bush Journey, Surry Hills, N.S.W. : Little Hare Books, 2009

Australian literature: Indigenous

How to find information about Indigenous literature

First Australians
Research guide
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
Two men, one on a ladder, looking at books on large bookshelf at the State Library of Victoria

Mark Strizic, Searching for books at the State Library of Victoria, January 1967, nla.gov.au/nla.obj-140508667

Australian literature research guide

A guide to finding Australian literature resources

Research guide
A collage of green and purple plant matter, aluminium and perspex, lit from above by a warm, yellow internal light.

Jeannie Baker, Hidden Forest, Endpapers, 2000, nla.gov.au/nla.obj-971313378

Australian children’s literature

Module

This resource is aligned with the Australian Curriculum: English for Year 4 students. It has been developed to use National Library collection material as the basis for an exploration of children’s literature as part of the literature strand of the English learning area.

Digital Classroom
Pile of colourful books of different sizes by authors Kylie Tennant, Doris Pilkington, Christina Stead, Colin Thiele, Norman Lindsay and Gabrielle Wang
Australian authors in the oral history collection

Hear from Colin Thiele, Kylie Tennant, Gabrielle Wang, Doris Pilkington, Norman Lindsay and Christina Stead as they share their thoughts, memories and creative journeys.

Blog
interior - stacks legal deposit crime magnifying glass
Arresting scenery: Capturing time and place in crime fiction writing

Explore some of the crime-fiction reads in the collection and how they can help readers learn more about Australian culture, history and place.

Blog
Collection guide
Alston Collection

The Alston Collection is a treasure trove of over 1,800 works on philology and linguistics. From rare books and manuscripts to Robin Alston’s personal drafts and correspondence, this collection is a must for anyone exploring the history of language and early bibliographical studies.

Collection guide

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