Biography Workshop

Dr Ayres will speak on the subject 'Writing biography: the generation of forward momentum, the question of fate vs will, and the concept of essence in regard to character.' He is the author of acclaimed biographies of prominent Australian judicial figures (Owen Dixon: a biography 2007; Fortunate Voyager: the worlds of Ninian Stephen 2013), politicians (Malcolm Fraser: a biography 1987), church figures (Prince of the Church: Patrick Francis Moran 1830-1911 2007), and explorers (Mawson: a life 2003). He is also author of numerous scholarly books and articles on eighteenth-century English culture, including Classical Culture and the idea of Rome in eighteenth-century England 1997). Dr Ayres is a Fellow of both the Royal Historical Society of London and the Australian Academy of the Humanities, and a recipient of the Centenary Medal for contributions to literature. He has taught at the University of Adelaide, Monash University, Vassar College (New York) and Boston University.