ANU author wins NSW Premier’s Literary Prize
Dr Merlinda Bobis with her book Locust Girl. A Lovesong.
ANU author Dr Merlinda Bobis has won the Christina Stead Prize for Fiction at the New South Wales Premier's 2016 Literary Awards.
Dr Bobis won the $40,000 prize for her novel Locust Girl. A Lovesong.
The judges described her book as transfiguring fiction, with a distinctiveness, sweep and visual power.
Dr Bobis, who is an Honorary Lecturer in Creative Writing, describes her book as a political fairy tale, written as a response to comments by former US President George W Bush in relation to the war on terror.
She said the book reflected on climate change and the theme of how people care across borders of race, class, gender, culture and across generations.
"This is the heart of the lovesong of Locust Girl. And I'm so pleased that the judges, the NSW Premier's Awards, and my publisher Spinifex Press have listened to it," she said.
Dr Bobis has just started a three-year appointment at ANU, where she will work on a number of projects including adapting Locust Girl into a screenplay.
Vice-Chancellor Professor Brian Schmidt congratulated Dr Bobis on her win.
"On behalf of the University I congratulate Dr Bobis on this wonderful achievement, and I wish her well with her future projects at ANU," Professor Schmidt said.
Read more about Merlinda Bobis' book here.