Literature and writing | National Library of Australia (NLA)

Literature and writing

Showing 109 - 117 of 117 results
Collection guide
Victorian minor verse Collection

Around 500 titles by minor and obscure British poets of the 19th century, most having been published during the reign of Queen Victoria – some earlier imprints extending back to 1801.

Collection guide
Collection guide
Wang Collection

A vast repository of over 4,000 books, primarily in Chinese, covering history, culture, politics, and religion. Collected between 1950 and 2000, it includes rare texts from Taiwan and China, reflecting the richness of Chinese scholarship. 

Collection guide
Cover of 'Wangka Wakanutja: The story of the Papunya Literature Production Centre' by Vivien Johnson, Charlotte Phillipus and Samantha Disbray
Wangka Wakaṉutja: The Story of the Papunya Literature Production Centre

Vivien Johnson, Charlotte Phillipus and Samantha Disbray
This landmark publication documents the full story behind the extraordinary literary movement at Papunya.

Book
Book cover with blue text reading 'The Snow Wombat' and an illustration of a wombat walking through snow on a bright cloudless day

Susannah Chambers, The snow wombat, 2016, nla.cat-vn7049949

What to read this winter

Get some winter book recommendations to suit all reading moods.

Blog
Handwritten letter from Eleanor Dark to Philip Whelan about signing copies of her books to give to him, kept in a copy of one of her books.

Eleanor Dark, The timeless land, 1941, nla.gov.au/nla.cat-vn726794

Whelan Collection

Discover the Whelan Collection, a remarkable archive of Australian literature with over 1,000 autographed books, manuscripts, and letters from 1892 to 1967. Collected by bibliophile Philip Whelan, it offers a rare glimpse into Australia’s rich storytelling heritage and vibrant literary culture.

Collection guide
Collection guide
White Collection

Personal papers of Patrick White, plus letters from White to other Australian writers acquired as part of their papers. Also papers of White's biographer David Marr and those of the artist and theatre designer Desmond Digby who had a long friendship with White.

Collection guide
A promotional graphic featuring a collage of three diverse women, each in a different portrait style, alongside the text 'She Shapes History at the National Library of Australia.' The women are presented in black and white or muted tones, suggesting a focus on historical or influential figures. The overall design is modern and impactful, with the text prominently displayed on a pale pink background.
Why didn’t anyone tell me Australian history was interesting?

In this opening talk, Sita Sargeant was joined by Santilla Chingaipe, Jacinta Mackay, and Harini Rangarajan: three women who between them show what becomes possible when you go looking for the version of Australia that never made it into the textbooks.

Learning activity for adults
Black background, with the white text 'My Life in 100 Objects', white line art of various objects surrounds the text as a boarder to the left and Nerra Mahajan to the right
Workshop: Writing the book only you can write

In this workshop, Writing the Book Only You Can Write, participants were introduced to a unique and accessible approach to writing their personal story. 

Event
Black background, with the white text 'My Life in 100 Objects', white line art of various objects surrounds the text as a boarder to the left and Nerra Mahajan to the right
Workshop: Writing the book only you can write - Session 2

In this workshop, Writing the Book Only You Can Write, participants were introduced to a unique and accessible approach to writing their personal story. 

Event

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