Celebrated author Amanda Lohrey to write next novel at ANU

Celebrated Tasmanian author Amanda Lohrey has joined the ANU School of Literature, Languages, and Linguistics as a visiting fellow in 2016.

 

Mrs Lohrey, recipient of the 2016 HC Coombs Creative Arts Fellowship, has won numerous literary awards including the Patrick White Award for her 30 years of literary achievement in 2012. Best known for novels Camille's Bread, Vertigo and, more recently, A Short History of Richard Kline, Amanda said she was excited to be joining ANU.

 

“As a former university teacher I’ve missed teaching, and I am interested in having contact with students again,” Mrs Lohrey said.

 

“They can come and talk to me about their writing or their literary studies. I’ll be happy to read their work and give advice.”

 

The Fellowship, created in 1965 by then ANU Pro-Chancellor HC Coombs, was designed to allow artists to engage in a period of uninterrupted creative work in residence at ANU; an environment Mrs Lohrey hopes will be conducive to writing her next novel.

 

"I'm writing a novel about a group of people who set out to build a labyrinth." she said.

 

“There are some remarkable labyrinths in the ACT and while here I want to look into why people opt for a certain design and what meaning it has for them. I also want to investigate various modes of construction.”

 

Playing host to an author of such calibre will benefit the University through a two-way flow of information between Mrs Lohrey and the ANU community through outreach activities, including public lectures and workshops.

 

Last year celebrated the 50th anniversary of the HC Coombs Creative Arts Designed to assist authors, visual artists and performers, the Fellowship has supported Australian artists such as Judith Wright, John Perceval, Arthur Boyd, Fiona Hall and Robyn Davidson.