1998 in Australian literature

none December 2019 December 2024 This article presents a list of the historical events and publications of Australian literature during 1998. Events Peter Carey (novelist) won the Miles Franklin Award for Jack Maggs The NSW Premier's Literary Awards were not presented as the eligibility dates were amended 1998 New South Wales Premier's literary Awards The Sydney Morning Herald, 26 September 1998, p10 https://www.proquest.com/docview/2527898272 10 May 2024 2527898272 9 May 2024 https://web.archive.org/web/20240509235848/https://www.proquest.com/docview/2527898272 live Major publications Novels Murray Bail – Eucalyptus Carmel Bird – Red Shoes Red Shoes by Carmel Bird National Library of Australia https://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record/1744577 2 May 2024 Bryce Courtenay – Jessica Luke Davies – Candy: A Novel of Love and Addiction Martin Flanagan – The Call Marion Halligan – The Golden Dress The Golden Dress by Marion Halligan National Library of Australia https://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record/240992 25 April 2024 Colleen McCullough – The Song of Troy The Song of Troy by Colleen McCullough National Library of Australia https://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record/1809289 2 May 2024 Roger McDonald – Mr Darwin's Shooter Les Murray – Fredy Neptune: A Novel in Verse Elliot Perlman – Three Dollars Morris West – Eminence Short story anthologies Jack Dann & Janeen Webb (ed) – Dreaming Down-Under Science fiction and fantasy Stephen Dedman – "A Walk-On Part in the War" Sara Douglass – Pilgrim Greg Egan Luminous (short story collection) "Oceanic" "The Planck Dive" Ian Irvine – A Shadow on the Glass Dave Luckett – A Dark Winter Jane Routley – Fire Angels Crime & mystery Jon Cleary – A Different Turf Peter Corris – The Black Prince The Black Prince by Peter Corris National Library of Australia https://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record/552029 2 May 2024 16 April 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20160416214841/http://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record/552029 live Peter Doyle – Amaze Your Friends Gabrielle Lord – The Sharp End The Sharp End by Gabrielle Lord National Library of Australia https://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record/2097821 2 May 2024 Shane Maloney – Nice Try Nice Try by Shane Maloney National Library of Australia https://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record/221943 2 May 2024 Andrew Masterson – The Last Days Matthew Reilly – Ice Station Peter Temple – An Iron Rose Children's and young adult fiction Kim Caraher – The Cockroach Cup The Cockroach Cup by Kim Caraher National Library of Australia https://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record/276269 2 May 2024 Garry Disher – The Divine Wind The Divine Wind by Garry Disher National Library of Australia https://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record/1928827 2 May 2024 4 August 2009 https://web.archive.org/web/20090804010041/http://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record/1928827 live Alison Goodman – Singing the Dogstar Blues Phillip Gwynne – Deadly, Unna? James Moloney – Angela Poetry Lee Cataldi – Race Against Time Lucy Dougan – Memory Shell Memory Shell by Lucy Dougan National Library of Australia https://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record/1428103 2 May 2024 Jean Kent – The Satin Bowerbird Austlit – The Satin Bowerbird by Jean Kent Austlit https://www.austlit.edu.au/austlit/page/C13492 2 May 2024 2 May 2024 https://web.archive.org/web/20240502005948/https://www.austlit.edu.au/austlit/page/C13492 live Anthony Lawrence – New and Selected Poems New and Selected Poems by Anthony Lawrence National Library of Australia https://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record/317011 2 May 2024 Gig Ryan – Pure and Applied Drama Jane Harrison – Stolen Katherine Thomson – Navigating Navigating by Katherine Thomson National Library of Australia https://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record/530752 15 September 2024 Non-fiction Diane Armstrong – Mosaic: A Chronicle of Five Generations Mosaic: A Chronicle of Five Generations by Diane Armstrong National Library of Australia https://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record/2025128 2 May 2024 Bruce Bennett and Jennifer Strauss (eds.) – The Oxford Literary History of Australia The Oxford Literary History of Australia edited by Bruce Bennett Jennifer Strauss National Library of Australia https://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record/509102 2 May 2024 31 May 2014 https://web.archive.org/web/20140531183903/http://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record/509102 live Raimond Gaita – Romulus, My Father Dorothy McRae-McMahon – Everyday Passions: A Conversation on Living Everyday Passions: A Conversation on Living by Dorothy McRae-McMahon National Library of Australia https://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record/1998996 2 May 2024 Peter Robb – M Mandy Sayer – Dreamtime Alice Dreamtime Alice by Mandy Sayer National Library of Australia https://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record/2062352 2 May 2024 Awards and honours John Harber Phillips AUS AC "for service to the law, the administration of justice, law reform and education as Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Victoria, and for his contributions to literature, the visual arts and the community"https://honours.pmc.gov.au/honours/awards/882305 The Honourable Chief Justice John Harber Phillips honours.pmc.gov.au live https://web.archive.org/web/20190102143123/https://honours.pmc.gov.au/honours/awards/882305 2 January 2019 2019-12-27 John R. Philip AUS AO "for service to the science of hydrology, to scientific communication in promoting the interests of science for the community, and the Australian culture through architecture and literature"https://honours.pmc.gov.au/honours/awards/885955 Dr John Robert Philip honours.pmc.gov.au live https://web.archive.org/web/20191227193332/https://honours.pmc.gov.au/honours/awards/885955 27 December 2019 2019-12-27 Anne Fairbairn AUS AM "for service to Australian literature as a poet and to international relations, particularly between Australia and the Middle East through translations of poetry and cultural exchanges"https://honours.pmc.gov.au/honours/awards/869708 Anne Mary Ross Fairbairn honours.pmc.gov.au live https://web.archive.org/web/20191227193329/https://honours.pmc.gov.au/honours/awards/869708 27 December 2019 2019-12-27 A. W. Martin AUS AM "for service in the field of Australian historiography as a teacher and scholar, and biographer and as foundation professor of the History Department at La Trobe University"https://honours.pmc.gov.au/honours/awards/881204 Dr Allan William Martin honours.pmc.gov.au live https://web.archive.org/web/20191227193327/https://honours.pmc.gov.au/honours/awards/881204 27 December 2019 2019-12-27 Elizabeth Burchill AUS OAM "for service to nursing, particularly as an historian, author and philanthropist"https://honours.pmc.gov.au/honours/awards/883963 Sister Dora Elizabeth Burchill honours.pmc.gov.au live https://web.archive.org/web/20191227193328/https://honours.pmc.gov.au/honours/awards/883963 27 December 2019 2019-12-27 Michael Noonan AUS OAM "for service to the arts as an author of numerous novels, works of non-fiction, television scripts and plays"https://honours.pmc.gov.au/honours/awards/870433 Michael John Noonan honours.pmc.gov.au live https://web.archive.org/web/20190927021531/https://honours.pmc.gov.au/honours/awards/870433 27 September 2019 2019-12-27 Lifetime achievement Award Author Christopher Brennan Award Austlit – FAW Christopher Brennan Award Austlit https://www.austlit.edu.au/austlit/page/v539?mainTabTemplate=awardWorksAndAgents&from=9&count=3 12 September 2023 15 September 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20230915030835/https://www.austlit.edu.au/austlit/page/v539?mainTabTemplate=awardWorksAndAgents&from=9&count=3 live Jennifer Maiden Patrick White Award Austlit – Patrick White Award – Past Winners Austlit https://www.austlit.edu.au/austlit/page/v617?mainTabTemplate=awardWorksAndAgents 8 September 2023 22 August 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20230822040912/https://www.austlit.edu.au/austlit/page/v617?mainTabTemplate=awardWorksAndAgents dead Alma De Groen Literary Award Author Title Publisher The Age Book of the Year Award"A rich and varied harvest" The Age, 29 August 1998, p8 https://www.proquest.com/docview/2521660665 16 June 2024 2521660665 Elliot Perlman Three Dollars Picador ALS Gold Medal ALS Gold Medal – Previous Winners Association for the Study of Australian Literature https://www.asal.org.au/awards/als-gold-medal/ 10 January 2024 15 March 2024 https://web.archive.org/web/20240315073843/https://www.asal.org.au/awards/als-gold-medal/ live James Cowan A Mapmaker's Dream Shambhala Publications Colin Roderick Award Colin Roderick Award – Other Winners James Cook University https://www.jcu.edu.au/foundation-for-australian-literary-studies/roderick-award/previous-winners2 16 January 2024 30 November 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20231130015711/https://www.jcu.edu.au/foundation-for-australian-literary-studies/roderick-award/previous-winners2 live Robert Dessaix (And So Forth) Pan Macmillan Nita Kibble Literary AwardKibble Literary Award Australian National University https://history.cass.anu.edu.au/centres/ncb/kibble-literary-award 26 February 2024 10 February 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20230210075745/https://history.cass.anu.edu.au/centres/ncb/kibble-literary-award live Roberta Sykes Snake Cradle Allen & Unwin Fiction International Award Category Author Title PublisherCommonwealth Writers' Prize Commonwealth Writers' Prize Regional Winners 1987-2007 Commonwealth Foundation http://www.commonwealthfoundation.com/uploads/documents/Regional%20Winners%201987-20071.pdf 17 January 2024 23 October 2007 https://web.archive.org/web/20071023223729/http://www.commonwealthfoundation.com/uploads/documents/Regional%20Winners%201987-20071.pdf dead Best Novel, SE Asia and South Pacific region Peter Carey Jack Maggs University of Queensland Press Best First Novel, SE Asia and South Pacific region Emma Tom Deadset Random House Best Overall Novel Peter Carey Jack Maggs University of Queensland Press National Award Author Title Publisher Adelaide Festival Awards for LiteratureState Library of South Australia https://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/past-literary-award-winners Adelaide Festival Awards for Literature – Past Literary Award Winners 18 April 2024 9 March 2026 https://web.archive.org/web/20260309180911/https://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/past-literary-award-winners dead Robert Drewe The Drowner Pan MacMillan The Age Book of the Year Award Elliot Perlman Three Dollars Picador The Australian/Vogel Literary Award Austlit – The Australian/Vogel National Literary Award 1998 Austlit https://www.austlit.edu.au/austlit/page/v385?mainTabTemplate=awardWorksAndAgents&from=21&count=3 16 February 2023 15 February 2024 https://web.archive.org/web/20240215222617/https://www.austlit.edu.au/austlit/page/v385?mainTabTemplate=awardWorksAndAgents&from=21&count=3 live Jennifer Kremmer Pegasus in the Suburbs Allen and Unwin Kathleen Mitchell Award Austlit — Kathleen Mitchell Literary Award Austlit https://www.austlit.edu.au/austlit/page/v225 17 February 2026 31 January 2026 https://web.archive.org/web/20260131074150/https://www.austlit.edu.au/austlit/page/v225 live James Bradley Wrack Random House Australia Miles Franklin Award Austlit – Miles Franklin Literary Award : 1997-1999 Austlit https://www.austlit.edu.au/austlit/page/v254?mainTabTemplate=awardWorksAndAgents&from=24&count=3 15 September 2023 20 November 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20231120044954/https://www.austlit.edu.au/austlit/page/v254?mainTabTemplate=awardWorksAndAgents&from=24&count=3 live Peter Carey Jack Maggs University of Queensland Press New South Wales Premier's Literary Awards Not awarded Victorian Premier's Literary Awards"Stranger than Fiction" The Age, 17 October 1998, p113 https://www.proquest.com/docview/2521605130 18 January 2025 2521605130 Richard Flanagan The Sound of One Hand Clapping Pan Macmillan Australia Western Australian Premier's Book Awards "Australian Literary Awards: Western Australian Premier's" University Libraries, University of Washington https://guides.lib.uw.edu/c.php?g=341672&p=2299464 19 March 2025 21 April 2025 https://web.archive.org/web/20250421075130/https://guides.lib.uw.edu/c.php?g=341672&p=2299464 live Pat Jacobs Going Inland Fremantle Arts Centre Press Crime and Mystery National Award Category Author Title PublisherNed Kelly Award"Ned Kelley Award Winners 1998" ACWA http://www.austcrimewriters.com/ned-kelly-award-winners/4 17 January 2024 27 March 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20160327060336/http://www.austcrimewriters.com/ned-kelly-award-winners/4 live Novel Not awarded First novel Not awarded Lifetime Achievement Not awarded Children and Young Adult Award Category Author Title Publisher Adelaide Festival Awards for Literature Children's Robin Klein The Listmaker Viking PenguinChildren's Book of the Year Award "CBCA - Previous Winners - 1946 Onwards" CBCA https://cbca.blob.core.windows.net/documents/National/CBCA%20Awards%201946%20on.pdf 25 August 2025 21 December 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20221221082022/https://cbca.blob.core.windows.net/documents/National/CBCA%20Awards%201946%20on.pdf live Older Readers Catherine Jinks Eye to Eye Puffin Books Picture Book Junko Morimoto, translated by Isao Morimoto The Two Bullies Random House New South Wales Premier's Literary Awards Young People's Literature Not awarded Victorian Premier's Prize for Young Adult Fiction Judith Clarke Night Train Penguin Poetry Award Author Title Publisher Adelaide Festival Awards for Literature Peter Boyle The Blue Cloud of Crying Hale and Ironmonger The Age Book of the Year Award John Kinsella The Hunt and Other Poems Fremantle PressAnne Elder Award Austlit – Anne Elder Award 1998-2000 Austlit https://www.austlit.edu.au/austlit/page/v148?mainTabTemplate=awardWorksAndAgents&from=21&count=3 12 February 2024 12 February 2024 https://web.archive.org/web/20240212223910/https://www.austlit.edu.au/austlit/page/v148?mainTabTemplate=awardWorksAndAgents&from=21&count=3 live Amanda Stewart I/T: Selected Poems 1980-1996 Here and There Books Jane Williams Outside Temple Boundaries Five Islands Press Grace Leven Prize for Poetry Austlit – Grace Leven Poetry Prize 1994-2001 Austlit https://www.austlit.edu.au/austlit/page/v186?mainTabTemplate=awardWorksAndAgents&from=9&count=3 12 February 2024 https://web.archive.org/web/20260101225707/https://www.austlit.edu.au/austlit/page/v186?mainTabTemplate=awardWorksAndAgents 2026-01-01 live Not awarded Mary Gilmore AwardMary Gilmore Award Association for the Study of Australian Literature https://www.asal.org.au/awards/mary-gilmore-award/ 10 February 2024 8 March 2024 https://web.archive.org/web/20240308150200/https://www.asal.org.au/awards/mary-gilmore-award/ live Emma Lew The Wild Reply Black Pepper Publishing New South Wales Premier's Literary Awards Not awarded Victorian Premier's Literary Awards Coral Hull Broken Land Five Islands PressWestern Australian Premier's Book Awards Fay Zwicky The Gatekeeper's Wife Brandl & Schlesinger John Kinsella The Hunt and Other Poems Fremantle Arts Centre Press Drama Award Category Author TitleNew South Wales Premier's Literary Awards FilmScript Not awarded Play Not awarded Victorian Premier's Literary Awards Drama Daniel Keene Every Minute, Every Hour, Every Day Non-fiction Award Category Author Title Publisher Adelaide Festival Awards for Literature Non-Fiction David Day Claiming a Continent: A History of Australia HarperCollins The Age Book of the Year Award Non-Fiction Stuart MacIntyre The Reds Allen and UnwinNational Biography Award "National Biography Award – Past Winners" State Library of NSW https://www.sl.nsw.gov.au/awards/national-biography-award?page=2 22 March 2024 19 June 2024 https://web.archive.org/web/20240619194006/https://www.sl.nsw.gov.au/awards/national-biography-award?page=2 live Biography Roberta Sykes Snake Cradle Allen and Unwin New South Wales Premier's Literary Awards Non-Fiction Not awarded Victorian Premier's Literary Awards Non-Fiction Raimond Gaita Romulus, My Father Text Publishing Deaths A list, ordered by date of death (and, if the date is either unspecified or repeated, ordered alphabetically by surname) of deaths in 1998 of Australian literary figures, authors of written works or literature-related individuals follows, including year of birth. 23 January – John Forbes, poet (born 1950)John Forbes (1950-1998) https://www.austlit.edu.au/austlit/page/A17401 2024-02-13 AustLit: Discover Australian Stories The University of Queensland 13 February 2024 https://web.archive.org/web/20240213051115/https://www.austlit.edu.au/austlit/page/A17401 live 11 May – John Morrison, novelist and short story writer (born 1904)John Morrison (1904-1998) https://www.austlit.edu.au/austlit/page/A6897 2023-07-06 AustLit: Discover Australian Stories The University of Queensland 6 July 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20230706012943/https://www.austlit.edu.au/austlit/page/A6897 live 14 May – Kay Glasson Taylor, novelist (born 1893)Kay Glasson Taylor (1893-1998) https://www.austlit.edu.au/austlit/page/A17062 2024-02-13 AustLit: Discover Australian Stories The University of Queensland 13 February 2024 https://web.archive.org/web/20240213051351/https://www.austlit.edu.au/austlit/page/A17062 live 3 July – Elizabeth Riddell, poet and journalist, also known as Betty Riddell (born 1910) Austlit – Elizabeth Riddell (1910-1998) Austlit https://www.austlit.edu.au/austlit/page/A5539 20 November 2023 20 November 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20231120044927/https://www.austlit.edu.au/austlit/page/A5539 live 4 September – Elizabeth Kata, writer whose real name was Elizabeth Katayama (born 1912)1998-09-08 Family notices The Sydney Morning Herald Ryerson Index 17 September – Geoffrey Dutton, author and historian (born 1922)Geoffrey Dutton (1922-1998) https://www.austlit.edu.au/austlit/page/A1085 2023-09-23 AustLit: Discover Australian Stories The University of Queensland 20 November 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20231120044954/https://www.austlit.edu.au/austlit/page/A1085 live 27 November – Vicki Viidikas, poet and writer (born 1948)Vicki Viidikas (1948-1998) https://www.austlit.edu.au/austlit/page/A2339 2024-02-13 AustLit: Discover Australian Stories The University of Queensland 13 February 2024 https://web.archive.org/web/20240213053206/https://www.austlit.edu.au/austlit/page/A2339 live 19 December – James McQueen (writer), novelist and short story writer (born 1934)James McQueen (1934-1998) https://www.austlit.edu.au/austlit/page/A28997 2024-02-13 AustLit: Discover Australian Stories The University of Queensland 13 February 2024 https://web.archive.org/web/20240213053559/https://www.austlit.edu.au/austlit/page/A28997 live See also 1998 in Australia 1998 in literature 1998 in poetry List of years in literature List of years in Australian literature References Category:1998 in Australia Category:Australian literature by year Category:20th-century Australian literature Category:1998 in literature