Australia night

Originally the “executive committee”, ie those of us who’d stayed behind for an additional pint in Dram last month, chose Vietnam but after a bit of research there’s comparatively little Vietnamese stuff out there in English, and a lot of the works that are available are in super expensive academic translations, so I went for option #2 which was…..Australia. Land of Clive James, Peter Carey, killer magpies and about a billion organisms that can kill you, not to mention the only known animal to produce perfectly cubic droppings (the wombat in case you’re curious), I asked ChatGPT for a list of top names in Australian fiction and this is what it came up with in its trademark bland style:

1. Henry Lawson (1867-1922)
   Known for his short stories and poetry depicting bush life and the struggles of ordinary Australians.
   Notable Works: While the Billy Boils, The Drover's Wife.
2. Banjo Paterson (1864-1941)
   Celebrated for his bush ballads and folk poetry that have become iconic representations of Australian identity.
   Notable Works: Waltzing Matilda, The Man from Snowy River.
3. Miles Franklin (1879-1954)
   Author and feminist who wrote about life in rural Australia and the challenges faced by women.
   Notable Works: My Brilliant Career.
4. Patrick White (1912-1990)
   Australia's first Nobel Prize in Literature laureate, known for his rich and complex novels exploring Australian society.
   Notable Works: Voss, The Tree of Man, The Eye of the Storm.
5. David Malouf (b. 1934)
   Renowned for his lyrical prose and exploration of Australian history and identity.
   Notable Works: Remembering Babylon, An Imaginary Life.
6. Peter Carey (b. 1943)
   Twice winner of the Booker Prize, acclaimed for his inventive storytelling and exploration of Australian history and culture.
   Notable Works: Oscar and Lucinda, True History of the Kelly Gang.
7. Tim Winton (b. 1960)
   One of Australia's most beloved contemporary writers, known for his evocative portrayals of coastal life and human relationships.
   Notable Works: Cloudstreet, Breath.
8. Helen Garner (b. 1942)
   Influential writer of fiction, non-fiction, and journalism, exploring themes of intimacy, relationships, and societal issues.
   Notable Works: Monkey Grip, The Spare Room.
9. Thomas Keneally (b. 1935)
   Author of historical fiction and non-fiction, including his Booker Prize-winning novel about the Holocaust.
   Notable Works: Schindler's Ark (published as Schindler's List), The Chant of Jimmie Blacksmith.
10. Colleen McCullough (1937-2015)
    Best known for her historical fiction, particularly the sweeping saga set in ancient Rome.
    Notable Works: The Thorn Birds, Masters of Rome series
11. Richard Flanagan
    The Narrow Road to the Deep North
    The Sound of One Hand Clapping
12. Christos Tsiolkas
    The Slap
    Barracuda

Poets:

1. Les Murray
   Subhuman Redneck Poems
   The Biplane Houses
2. Dorothy Porter
   The Monkey's Mask
   What a Piece of Work

Playwright:

1. David Williamson
   The Removalists
   Don's Party
   The Club

I also found a few other lists online for your perusal:
Ten of the best Booker-nominated books by Australian authors | The Booker Prizes
Australia's 10 Most Famous Authors (theculturetrip.com)
The 25 best Australian novels of the last 25 years (smh.com.au)

As always if you don’t like any of the suggestions, feel free to read whatever. And please feel free to let us know what you’re going to read in the event comments/event chat below…