The winner of the inaugural Hatchet Job of the Year will be announced tomorrow. But will it achieve its aim of promoting accessible, excellent literary criticism? Or is it in poor taste? Opinions from shotlisted critic Geoff Dyer, prize founder Anna Baddeley, Peter Rose and Rebecca Starford., Melissa Cranenburgh, former editor of Bicycle Victoria's Ride On magazine, argues that we can learn to share the roads – if we see each other as people who ride bikes/drive cars, rather than as warring tribes of 'cyclists' and 'motorists'., Michelle Griffin has issued a passionate defence of 'dirty books' for teens as a way for them to develop fantasy lives free of the 'shackles of banal commercialised sexuality'. We look at her reasons., In yesterday's Guardian, Ewan Morrison warned of the coming fall-out for writers and publishers when the 'self-e-publishing bubble' inevitably bursts. Here in Australia, the bubble has barely floated into view. We look at Morrison's argument and how self-e-publishing is playing out in Australia - talking to Matthia Dempsey, Angela Meyer and Lisa Dempster. , It’s always nice to see Australian creators gain attention and accolades overseas – even more so when they hail from Melbourne. And when they’re written up in a lauded international publication for a book *about* Melbourne ... well, that’s impressive., Salman Rushdie has had to drop out of India's Jaipur festival due to threats of violence. But how real were those threats, and what's behind them? Australian/Indian publisher Kabita Dhara gives us her take., We talk to Penguin publisher Ben Ball about the thinking behind the company's return to accepting unsolicited manuscripts - during the first week of every month, starting 1 February 2012., David Holmgren on Retrofitting the Suburbs for Sustainability, Alom Shaha: The Young Atheists Handbook, Unexpected Passions, Growing Up Asian in Australia, George Megalogenis: The Australian Moment, The Many Lives of Etgar Keret and Animals Should be Off the Menu
This week, everyone's talking about the call by The Sunday Age and publisher Michael Heyward to value our Australian literature, past and present. We look at the discussion so far – and some possible ways forward., Highlights of a literary year., ... but two can be as bad as one - at least until now., The problem of biography., Local author nominated for bad sex award., Jane Austen's premature death may have been related to arsenic., A new publishing venture brings crowdfunding to publishing., The Wheeler Centre Gala 2012: Stories to Believe In, Alom Shaha: The Young Atheists Handbook, Janette Turner Hospital: Turbulent Voices, Javier Cercas and Juan Gabriel Vasquez: Truth and Fiction, Watkin Tench: A Narrative of the Expedition to Botany Bay, The Hazel Rowley Legacy and The Many Lives of Etgar Keret
This week, everyone's talking about the call by The Sunday Age and publisher Michael Heyward to value our Australian literature, past and present. We look at the discussion so far – and some possible ways forward., Emerging Writers' Festival director and avid traveller Lisa Dempster reports on the blossoming, globally-minded literary culture of Sharjah's International Book Fair., As Italy's Costa Concordia cruise ship disaster continues to unfold, we look at a list of literature's most fabled shipwrecks., We search the world for libraries with street cred., 2011 was the year that digital publishing came into its own, and readers and retailers adapted accordingly., Highlights of a literary year., ... but two can be as bad as one - at least until now., Growing Up Asian in Australia, Children's Book Festival Schools Day, Children's Book Festival Schools Day, Children's Book Festival, Cosi and Debut Mondays
Salman Rushdie has had to drop out of India's Jaipur festival due to threats of violence. But how real were those threats, and what's behind them? Australian/Indian publisher Kabita Dhara gives us her take., We look at the debates about Melinda Tankard Reist, what a feminist is – and the magazine profile that started it all., Parliament, polls and polemics in the year that was., The spirit of revolution catches fire., Some recommendations for Julia Gillard., Stalin's daughter's life sums up a tragic century., Citizen reporters from JFK to Tahrir Square., Hilary Charlesworth on Women and the New Wave of Democracy, David Rieff: The Ethics of Intervention, Alan Hollinghurst: Beautiful Lines and Strangers' Children, Javier Cercas and Juan Gabriel Vasquez: Truth and Fiction, Christine Gordon on International Women's Day: Feminism is Personal, George Megalogenis: The Australian Moment and Animals Should be Off the Menu
Attack on slam poetry prompts impassioned backlash., Susan Mitchell on how Tony Abbott's faith formed his world-view., Bruce Guthrie on the newspaper's digital future, Video of Larissa Behrendt speaking on indigenous disadvantage, Have we become a nation of whingers?, Rowan McKinnon on why travel writing doesn't suck, What changes do you think the new Victorian government will make?, David Holmgren on Retrofitting the Suburbs for Sustainability, Hilary Charlesworth on Women and the New Wave of Democracy, Michael Gawenda on The Journalist as Betrayer, Christine Gordon on International Women's Day: Feminism is Personal, Dr Jonathon Welch on Life Beyond Hard Knocks: Confessions of a Choraloholic, Verity Burgmann on The Importance of Being Extreme and Ken Haley on why Everyone Should Be in a Wheelchair
As Wikipedia blacks its English site out for a day and other sites obscure their text with black strips, we glance at the discussion surrounding online piracy and freedom of speech., In this era of outspoken bloggers, commenters and anonymous slanderers, where's the love?, Lisa Dempster writes about the Emerging Writers Festival's continued expansion into new cities, platforms and communities., Australian Poetry's Paul Kooperman talks about the organisation's inaugural year and its new programs for 2012., 2011 was the year that digital publishing came into its own, and readers and retailers adapted accordingly., Retailer launches one-stop self-publishing shop. and Rewriting the poetry canon is a fraught affair.
What's your question for our final Deakin lecture, the Politics of Climate Change with Malcolm Turnbull, Mark Dreyfus, Nick McKim and Baroness Valerie Amos?, What's your question for our Innovating the Cities panel?, What are your questions for tonight's Ethics of Climate Change session?, What are your questions for tonight's Innovation, Energy and Climate Change in the Developing World session?, What are your questions for Tim Costello at tonight's Innovation, Energy and Climate Change in the Developing World lecture?, What are your questions for tomorrow night's Innovation, Energy and Climate Change in the Developing World session? and Tim Jackson on building the new green economy
Mark Mordue on what art has to teach us about feeling., A preview of the adaptation of Shaun Tan's visual masterpiece., Readings on Amy Winehouse, Conversations with two music pioneers, Singing the praises of the VPLAs... es., Dylan don't need a weatherman to know which way the wind blows, Writer-musicians and musician-writers, Amanda Palmer and Meow Meow are Frank, Dr Jonathon Welch on Life Beyond Hard Knocks: Confessions of a Choraloholic and Mikey Cahill on Waxing Lyrical: The Good, The Bad and The Gaga
On a day characterised by varying levels of Australian introspection, we compile our recommended Wheeler Centre viewing on the issue of national identity., This week, everyone's talking about the call by The Sunday Age and publisher Michael Heyward to value our Australian literature, past and present. We look at the discussion so far – and some possible ways forward., Parliament, polls and polemics in the year that was., The story is the thing, according to the former PM., Bill Gammage describes a carefully-tended mosaic estate., 'Our Story' program to promote the Australian experience., The author of 'Too Much Luck' warns the boom may leave us worse off., Growing Up Asian in Australia, Watkin Tench: A Narrative of the Expedition to Botany Bay, George Megalogenis: The Australian Moment, Henry Handel Richardson: The Getting of Wisdom, Judith Wright: Poems, Cosi and David Williamson: State of the Industry Address
Australian Poetry's Paul Kooperman talks about the organisation's inaugural year and its new programs for 2012., Rewriting the poetry canon is a fraught affair., Attack on slam poetry prompts impassioned backlash., Artists, designers and wordsmiths invited to submit Festival branding ideas., Swedish poet is a typically left-field Nobel winner., A delegation of Norwich poets running workshops in Melbourne, What are your favourite poems? and Judith Wright: Poems
Local author nominated for bad sex award., A new prize seeks to sideline a discredited Booker., Swedish poet is a typically left-field Nobel winner., The world's biggest literary prize has its fair share of idiosyncrasies., Premier Ted Baillieu announces the winners of the VPLAs., Our Queensland Premier's and Booker shortlist wrap-up. and Announcement of the winners of 'The Age' Book of the Year awards.
We look at the debates about Melinda Tankard Reist, what a feminist is – and the magazine profile that started it all., A cross-post excerpt of a Melbourne Writers Festival blog by Stephanie Honor Convery, The "surprise star" of Hackgate is an accomplished woman of letters., Sex work and women’s rights in Iraqi Kurdistan, Gail Dines on how male desire is being manipulated, Thursday's best-of-the-web, VS Naipaul ends one feud only to instigate countless more, Hilary Charlesworth on Women and the New Wave of Democracy, Christine Gordon on International Women's Day: Feminism is Personal and Slow Awakening with Tracey Rigney: International Women's Day PEN Event
The private dick is alive and well., Is there such a thing as highbrow and lowbrow anymore?, Magazine benefiting the homeless launches its annual fiction edition., César Aira tips the conventional wisdom on its head., Why read fiction?, Marion Halligan on Ruth Park's legacy., Michael Connelly reveals his inspirations, Janette Turner Hospital: Turbulent Voices, Javier Cercas and Juan Gabriel Vasquez: Truth and Fiction, The Many Lives of Etgar Keret and A Christmas Carol
The problem of biography., A new Paris exhibition remembers one of colonialism's worst practices., Stalin's daughter's life sums up a tragic century., Citizen reporters from JFK to Tahrir Square., Jane Austen's premature death may have been related to arsenic., Bill Gammage describes a carefully-tended mosaic estate., The end of the great divergence., Alan Hollinghurst: Beautiful Lines and Strangers' Children and Javier Cercas and Juan Gabriel Vasquez: Truth and Fiction
An Afghan man claims a book about him has ruined his life., The Archbishop of Canterbury weighs in on the Occupy debate., A defence of public interest journalism., Conrad Black calls the kettle black., Faithfulness as natural as vegetarianism, says Christopher Ryan., A study indicates market trader behaviour is psychopathic., 'The Australian' editor-at-large responds to criticism of the newspaper published in the current 'Quarterly Essay'., David Rieff: The Ethics of Intervention, Animals Should be Off the Menu, Western Civilisation is in Terminal Decline and A Good Death is a Human Right
When is it okay to betray your friends?, Video of Obama's paternal reveries, 'The Crucible' is more than a mere crucible, A look at a classic Australian maestro, Does studying books at school ruin them ever after?, On the Waterfront, The Crucible, Year of Wonders, Ransom, Interpreter of Maladies, The Quiet American and A Christmas Carol
2010 carbon emissions grow by record amount., The opposition refuses to adhere to the government's preferred legislative timetable., Cooler tongues should prevail in global warming debate, says the Opposition Leader., Treasury chief on why taxing carbon is the only credible policy choice, Two scientists claim climate denialism has no basis in science, Sophie Cunningham on our capacity for denial, What changes do you think the new Victorian government will make?, David Holmgren on Retrofitting the Suburbs for Sustainability and Environment and Sustainability
In yesterday's Guardian, Ewan Morrison warned of the coming fall-out for writers and publishers when the 'self-e-publishing bubble' inevitably bursts. Here in Australia, the bubble has barely floated into view. We look at Morrison's argument and how self-e-publishing is playing out in Australia - talking to Matthia Dempsey, Angela Meyer and Lisa Dempster. , We talk to Penguin publisher Ben Ball about the thinking behind the company's return to accepting unsolicited manuscripts - during the first week of every month, starting 1 February 2012., This week, everyone's talking about the call by The Sunday Age and publisher Michael Heyward to value our Australian literature, past and present. We look at the discussion so far – and some possible ways forward., Zoe Dattner discusses SPUNC's move into eBooks and new publishing models., 2011 was the year that digital publishing came into its own, and readers and retailers adapted accordingly., Retailer launches one-stop self-publishing shop. and A new publishing venture brings crowdfunding to publishing.
The Wheeler Centre announces five names to feature in next year's Gala., A tale of two grandfathers, Nam Le reflects on his kung fu grandpa, Pics from the Gala Night, Abha Dawesar's Gala Night story on video, An update from the Jaipur Literature Festival, Wheeler Weekly: Cartoon by Andrew Weldon and The Wheeler Centre Gala 2012: Stories to Believe In
This week, everyone's talking about the call by The Sunday Age and publisher Michael Heyward to value our Australian literature, past and present. We look at the discussion so far – and some possible ways forward., Bret Easton Ellis has advice for 'Psycho' remake., New Tintin film draws on the boy-hero's wartime legacy., When is it okay to betray your friends?, Michael Connelly reveals his inspirations, Words on film, A TV adaptation of an Australian classic and The Many Lives of Etgar Keret
In this era of outspoken bloggers, commenters and anonymous slanderers, where's the love?, Conrad Black calls the kettle black., 'The Australian' editor-at-large responds to criticism of the newspaper published in the current 'Quarterly Essay'., Where others see weakness in the PM's leadership style, the former Victorian police commissioner sees strength., What's wrong with political journalism, and how to fix it., A preview of a two-day conference on how technology is changing journalism., Legendary illustrator cancels Sydney appearance following tabloid schlocker., Michael Gawenda on The Journalist as Betrayer and George Megalogenis: The Australian Moment
The private dick is alive and well., Sizing up the shadow economy., The truth is out there, as Kris Mrska is reminded time and again., Forget your shiver-me-timbers - this is the real McCoy., When Jay Bahadur was told to kickstart his career in a "crazy place", he chose the craziest of all., Novel mystery is stranger than a Larsson novel mystery. and "There is a social question to be asked about young people with nothing to lose."
A wrap of how the Wheeler Centre covered the news., An Afghan man claims a book about him has ruined his life., The Archbishop of Canterbury weighs in on the Occupy debate., A defence of public interest journalism., 'The Australian' editor-at-large responds to criticism of the newspaper published in the current 'Quarterly Essay'., When Jay Bahadur was told to kickstart his career in a "crazy place", he chose the craziest of all., What's wrong with political journalism, and how to fix it., Kim Barker: The Taliban Shuffle, Michael Gawenda on The Journalist as Betrayer and Eliza Griswold: The Tenth Parallel
A defence of public interest journalism., What's wrong with political journalism, and how to fix it., Sighs demeaned complications for covert communication (6, 7), Online journalism takes more great leaps, Think you could write a better headline?, Oakes uses Walkleys to decry Gillard's Wikileaks stance, Paywalls and Twitter in the new journalism and Kim Barker: The Taliban Shuffle
2010 carbon emissions grow by record amount., Father Bob to bow out in February., Susan Mitchell on how Tony Abbott's faith formed his world-view., Police and state-sponsored militias operate with impunity, says Human Rights Watch., The opposition refuses to adhere to the government's preferred legislative timetable., Cooler tongues should prevail in global warming debate, says the Opposition Leader., One blogger takes a look back at the Intelligence Squared debate., Animals Should be Off the Menu, Freedom of Speech is Overrated, Foreign Aid is a Waste of Money, Western Civilisation is in Terminal Decline and A Good Death is a Human Right
No jitters for these first-timers, Lara Fergus on balancing work and writing, Debut Monday author on her award-winning novel, Haunting book trailer for Bereft, Debut Monday author profiled by Jo Case, Debut Monday author on his writing method, Anna Dusk on the Journey to Publication, Debut Mondays, Debut Mondays and Debut Mondays
French satirists bruised but unrepentant., Wheeler Weekly: Cartoon by Oslo Davis, Huckleberry Finn as "America without its make-up on", Paris Review promo video that makes dessert of the literary journal, How humour has dated, Board game marks new project for literary journal and Pobjie on professionally tickling the funny bone
Emerging Writers' Festival director and avid traveller Lisa Dempster reports on the blossoming, globally-minded literary culture of Sharjah's International Book Fair., Lisa Dempster writes about the Emerging Writers Festival's continued expansion into new cities, platforms and communities., As 2011 ends, we look back and forth with Melbourne Writers Festival's Steve Grimwade., Halloween hasn't lost its zest for mayhem., A postcard from the winner of the Ultimate Book Lover's Prize., Artists, designers and wordsmiths invited to submit Festival branding ideas., Highlights include stand-up comedy from the Elvis of cultural theory., Children's Book Festival Schools Day, Children's Book Festival Schools Day and Children's Book Festival
Bret Easton Ellis has advice for 'Psycho' remake., Dolly Parton does her bit for child literacy., An enduring mystery is reinvented., Children's education is the key to breaking cycle of poverty, says John Wood., Mark Mordue on Father's Day, 2011, There's a bear in there, and a grumpy parent as well..., Sesame Street's history of political flak, The Many Lives of Etgar Keret, Children's Book Festival Schools Day, Children's Book Festival Schools Day and Children's Book Festival
On a day characterised by varying levels of Australian introspection, we compile our recommended Wheeler Centre viewing on the issue of national identity., We look at the debates about Melinda Tankard Reist, what a feminist is – and the magazine profile that started it all., David Nichols takes to the Big Apple, bad pretzels and all., The story is the thing, according to the former PM., Global headcount hits another milestone., Tanveer Ahmed on gets on his soapbox about occidentalism., What goes up must come down., An Evening with Alain de Botton, Arts and Culture, Javier Cercas and Juan Gabriel Vasquez: Truth and Fiction, George Megalogenis: The Australian Moment, What Men Really Think About... Fatherhood, Verity Burgmann on The Importance of Being Extreme and Robert Dessaix: As I Was Saying
Seventy new words make latest Collins edition., Could the government's woes be language-related?, Woot! New words for Scrabble fans., Bengal finches shown to be grammar nerds, Author v author, The ultra-competitive world of the spelling bee, In praise of Arabic script and Michael Shmith: Away with Cliché
Father Bob to bow out in February., Protests in Egypt take a tragic turn., Hanifa Deen finds herself back on the burqa treadmill., Justin Bieber linked to coming apocalypse, Verily I say unto thee, happy birthday to ye, God in the classroom - the debate continues, Lifting the veil off the veil, An Evening with Alain de Botton, Alom Shaha: The Young Atheists Handbook, Eliza Griswold: The Tenth Parallel, Chris Stedman: Faithiest: How an Atheist Found Common Ground with the Religious and A Good Death is a Human Right
The Archbishop of Canterbury weighs in on the Occupy debate., A new book celebrates the survival of a bold entrepreneurial experiment., The story is the thing, according to the former PM., The end of the great divergence., Sizing up the shadow economy., The origins of Occupy., Global headcount hits another milestone., George Megalogenis: The Australian Moment and Western Civilisation is in Terminal Decline
On a day characterised by varying levels of Australian introspection, we compile our recommended Wheeler Centre viewing on the issue of national identity., We search the world for libraries with street cred., In this era of outspoken bloggers, commenters and anonymous slanderers, where's the love?, In some cities, liveability looks a lot like survival, David Nichols discovers., David Nichols takes to the Big Apple, bad pretzels and all., Our liveability series continues with visits to two lesser-known, but eminently liveable, towns., David Nichols finds a Celtic tiger with egg on its face., Arts and Culture, Watkin Tench: A Narrative of the Expedition to Botany Bay, Eliza Griswold: The Tenth Parallel, Robert Dessaix: As I Was Saying, Tim Winton: Cloudstreet, Kate Grenville: Lilian's Story and Western Civilisation is in Terminal Decline
The spirit of revolution catches fire., The story is the thing, according to the former PM., Amnesty TV showcases the strange personalities that lust for complete power., Forget your shiver-me-timbers - this is the real McCoy., Police and state-sponsored militias operate with impunity, says Human Rights Watch., When Jay Bahadur was told to kickstart his career in a "crazy place", he chose the craziest of all., He used to be one of the world's richest men; now he's writing sketches of his fellow prisoners., Kim Barker: The Taliban Shuffle, Hilary Charlesworth on Women and the New Wave of Democracy, David Rieff: The Ethics of Intervention and Foreign Aid is a Waste of Money
French satirists bruised but unrepentant., Gareth Pugh on the importance of ideas., Mark Mordue on what art has to teach us about feeling., A Bairnsdale exhibition of book art showcases entries from across the world., How great paintings still stir the passions, Leading Chinese artist returns home after three months' detention, Click, clack, pffft, drrring: the artistic type and Arts and Culture
That's a wrap! We finish our librarians' reviews of the Premier's 21 in dramatic style., High anxiety on drama queens, Scheherazade's stories to be told once more, How reliable is history's judgment?, Hannie Rayson on what our politicians can learn from theatre, Wheeler Weekly: Cartoon by Judy Horacek, Theatre criticism at Critical Failure, Slow Awakening with Tracey Rigney: International Women's Day PEN Event, David Williamson: State of the Industry Address, National Play Festival: Departure Lounge, National Play Festival: Departure Lounge, National Play Festival: Departure Lounge and National Play Festival: Departure Lounge
This week, everyone's talking about the call by The Sunday Age and publisher Michael Heyward to value our Australian literature, past and present. We look at the discussion so far – and some possible ways forward., As Italy's Costa Concordia cruise ship disaster continues to unfold, we look at a list of literature's most fabled shipwrecks., Highlights of a literary year., Dolly Parton does her bit for child literacy., Citizen reporters from JFK to Tahrir Square., Is there such a thing as highbrow and lowbrow anymore?, Amy Han blogs for SPUNC on Informit's new treasure trove., Watkin Tench: A Narrative of the Expedition to Botany Bay, Henry Handel Richardson: The Getting of Wisdom, Judith Wright: Poems, Christina Stead: The Man Who Loved Children, Ray Lawler: Summer of the Seventeenth Doll, Patrick White: Voss and Helen Garner: Monkey Grip
Salman Rushdie has had to drop out of India's Jaipur festival due to threats of violence. But how real were those threats, and what's behind them? Australian/Indian publisher Kabita Dhara gives us her take., As Wikipedia blacks its English site out for a day and other sites obscure their text with black strips, we glance at the discussion surrounding online piracy and freedom of speech., Focus on copyright reform., Rewriting the poetry canon is a fraught affair., Chinese artists and writers fight to have their voices heard., A Chinese dissident chooses freedom over his homeland. and Liao chooses freedom of expression
Emerging Writers' Festival director and avid traveller Lisa Dempster reports on the blossoming, globally-minded literary culture of Sharjah's International Book Fair., Citizen reporters from JFK to Tahrir Square., Palestinians gain membership to UNESCO, but probably not to General Assembly., Protests in Egypt take a tragic turn., When Jay Bahadur was told to kickstart his career in a "crazy place", he chose the craziest of all., Many brow-beaten Libyans will welcome a post-'Green Book' world. and "In the end, the gates yield, the crowd breaks in and celebrates its triumph."
Melissa Cranenburgh, former editor of Bicycle Victoria's Ride On magazine, argues that we can learn to share the roads – if we see each other as people who ride bikes/drive cars, rather than as warring tribes of 'cyclists' and 'motorists'., We search the world for libraries with street cred., In some cities, liveability looks a lot like survival, David Nichols discovers., David Nichols takes to the Big Apple, bad pretzels and all., Our liveability series continues with visits to two lesser-known, but eminently liveable, towns., David Nichols finds a Celtic tiger with egg on its face., David Nichols goes a little gaga for Tel Aviv in the second instalment of this week's liveability series., Transport and Movement, Arts and Culture, City and Urban Planning, David Holmgren on Retrofitting the Suburbs for Sustainability, Environment and Sustainability and Sport and Major Events
The Archbishop of Canterbury weighs in on the Occupy debate., French satirists bruised but unrepentant., New Tintin film draws on the boy-hero's wartime legacy., Legendary illustrator cancels Sydney appearance following tabloid schlocker., Controversial end-of-week best-of-web, Superheroes from around the world, The best of the horrid and The Many Lives of Etgar Keret
... but he may win Not the Booker., There's a bear in there, and a grumpy parent as well..., Authentically authoritarian authors, Catherine Deveny tells Lunchbox/ Soapbox why becoming an atheist made her a writer, Unexpected Passions, Get Fact!, Jeez Louise, Best Comics, Worst Gigs, Get Fact! and Best Comics, Worst Gigs
Emma Forrest on time out of mind, Memoir overload: can we handle the truth?, David Astle turns an Allen Key on the language behind IKEA, Pentagon declares war on a book , A parent's struggle with orphan syndrome, New York Stories from punk poet Patti Smith , Ian Brown on what we can learn from the less abled and Hilary McPhee: Memoirs of a Young Bastard
What musicians read when they're not reading music, Watkin Tench: A Narrative of the Expedition to Botany Bay, Henry Handel Richardson: The Getting of Wisdom, Judith Wright: Poems, Christina Stead: The Man Who Loved Children, Ray Lawler: Summer of the Seventeenth Doll, Patrick White: Voss and Helen Garner: Monkey Grip
On a day characterised by varying levels of Australian introspection, we compile our recommended Wheeler Centre viewing on the issue of national identity., Is guilt preventing progress on indigenous issues?, The historian in his labyrinth, Trimming the nature strip of the quarter acre block, The Aussie bloke - where the bloody hell is he at?, Literary speed-dating gets queer, Scott wins regional Commonwealth Prize, Alan Hollinghurst: Beautiful Lines and Strangers' Children and Anita Heiss: Am I Black Enough for You?
In some cities, liveability looks a lot like survival, David Nichols discovers., Our liveability series continues with visits to two lesser-known, but eminently liveable, towns., David Nichols finds a Celtic tiger with egg on its face., David Nichols goes a little gaga for Tel Aviv in the second instalment of this week's liveability series., This week, David Nichols undertakes his own liveability survey, beginning today in Hong Kong., Gareth Pugh on the importance of ideas. and A documentary on typography shows that form is content.
As Wikipedia blacks its English site out for a day and other sites obscure their text with black strips, we glance at the discussion surrounding online piracy and freedom of speech., In this era of outspoken bloggers, commenters and anonymous slanderers, where's the love?, The truth is out there, as Kris Mrska is reminded time and again., Anti-assisted dying campaigners condemn Pratchett doco and Prominent French intellectual condemns trial by media of ex-IMF chief
A wrap of how the Wheeler Centre covered the news., The Wheeler Centre announces five names to feature in next year's Gala., A bar and café opens in the Wheeler Centre's basement., Fellowship program expanded to 20 in 2012., Take a look inside our new programme., Michael Williams appointed Wheeler Centre director, Remember the year's biggest events and The Wheeler Centre Gala 2012: Stories to Believe In
Dolly Parton does her bit for child literacy., Bill Gammage describes a carefully-tended mosaic estate., Julia Gillard receives international kudos for passing carbon tax legislation., PARKing Day seeks to put the jungle back into the concrete jungle., Treasury chief on why taxing carbon is the only credible policy choice, A kind of 'cloud atlas', Reading for green thumbs, Transport and Movement, David Holmgren on Retrofitting the Suburbs for Sustainability, Environment and Sustainability and Animals Should be Off the Menu
As Italy's Costa Concordia cruise ship disaster continues to unfold, we look at a list of literature's most fabled shipwrecks., Now hear this, a Romanian Revolution, Tim Flannery, curator of the 2010 Deakin Lecture Series, at Copenhagen. , Slow Awakening with Tracey Rigney: International Women's Day PEN Event, David Williamson: State of the Industry Address, National Play Festival: Departure Lounge, National Play Festival: Departure Lounge, National Play Festival: Departure Lounge and National Play Festival: Departure Lounge
A new Paris exhibition remembers one of colonialism's worst practices., The story is the thing, according to the former PM., Bill Gammage describes a carefully-tended mosaic estate., Is guilt preventing progress on indigenous issues?, Popular kids' book translated for remote indigenous kids, Video of Larissa Behrendt speaking on indigenous disadvantage, Is alcohol too cheap? and Anita Heiss: Am I Black Enough for You?
A bar and café opens in the Wheeler Centre's basement., Tanveer Ahmed on gets on his soapbox about occidentalism., Questioning the ethics and protocols of food blogging, Food that tastes good but that isn't necessarily in good taste, Have we taken our food obsession too far? and Animals Should be Off the Menu
Conrad Black calls the kettle black., Faithfulness as natural as vegetarianism, says Christopher Ryan., What's spending got to do with happiness?, Mark Mordue on what art has to teach us about feeling., Low-income kids feel the brunt of the US's mental illness epidemic., Emma Forrest on time out of mind and Flunking the psychopath test
This week, everyone's talking about the call by The Sunday Age and publisher Michael Heyward to value our Australian literature, past and present. We look at the discussion so far – and some possible ways forward., Dolly Parton does her bit for child literacy., Children's education is the key to breaking cycle of poverty, says John Wood., Publishers, booksellers and schools pitch in to try to close the gap in literacy., Video of our Intelligence Squared debate on funding private education, Is school funding reform class warfare?, God in the classroom - the debate continues and Janette Turner Hospital: Turbulent Voices
We look at the debates about Melinda Tankard Reist, what a feminist is – and the magazine profile that started it all., Palestinians gain membership to UNESCO, but probably not to General Assembly., Nation-building with a Boy and a Crocodile, Hilary Charlesworth on Women and the New Wave of Democracy and Verity Burgmann on The Importance of Being Extreme
Cartoon newspaper seeks real-life volunteers, Wheeler Weekly: Cartoon by Oslo Davis, Wheeler Weekly: Cartoon by Oslo Davis, Office life isn't easy for a sentimental bunny, Oslo Davis on the simple pleasures of (second) childhood, Wheeler Weekly: Cartoon by Oslo Davis and Wheeler Weekly: Cartoon by Oslo Davis
One blogger takes a look back at the Intelligence Squared debate., Naomi Chazan on Israel, peace and the Arab spring, Nation-building efforts falling short?, The WikiLeaks effect, In praise of Private Bradley Manning, Informed debate & the information vacuum, Gillard commits Australia to Obama's timetable, Kim Barker: The Taliban Shuffle and David Rieff: The Ethics of Intervention
Emerging Writers' Festival director and avid traveller Lisa Dempster reports on the blossoming, globally-minded literary culture of Sharjah's International Book Fair., As Italy's Costa Concordia cruise ship disaster continues to unfold, we look at a list of literature's most fabled shipwrecks., In some cities, liveability looks a lot like survival, David Nichols discovers., David Nichols takes to the Big Apple, bad pretzels and all., Bringing a unique novel to the screen, Rowan McKinnon on why travel writing doesn't suck and Travel Writing Festival Director shares her picks
Chinese artists and writers fight to have their voices heard., A Chinese dissident chooses freedom over his homeland., Liao chooses freedom of expression, Leading Chinese artist returns home after three months' detention, Was Mao's Red Book ghostwritten?, Chinese authorities muzzle leading writer and A Chinese writer speaks on creative independence
Why are women missing from the literary pages?, Literary magazines: who needs them? , Paris Review promo video that makes dessert of the literary journal, Board game marks new project for literary journal, Double-barelled Calibre winners and keeping you up-to-date with what's happening in the literary online world
Take a look inside our new programme., Eleven events in eleven days announced for the Wheeler Centre., Bernard Calleo on Hicksville, Tomorrow's Lunchbox/Soapbox - Shane Maloney: In Praise of Shoosh, Catherine Deveny tells Lunchbox/ Soapbox why becoming an atheist made her a writer, The Wheeler Centre comes to the Fed Square Book Market , the future of books and Sport and Major Events
We look at the debates about Melinda Tankard Reist, what a feminist is – and the magazine profile that started it all., Hilary Charlesworth on Women and the New Wave of Democracy, Christine Gordon on International Women's Day: Feminism is Personal, Slow Awakening with Tracey Rigney: International Women's Day PEN Event and Jeez Louise
In yesterday's Guardian, Ewan Morrison warned of the coming fall-out for writers and publishers when the 'self-e-publishing bubble' inevitably bursts. Here in Australia, the bubble has barely floated into view. We look at Morrison's argument and how self-e-publishing is playing out in Australia - talking to Matthia Dempsey, Angela Meyer and Lisa Dempster. , Zoe Dattner discusses SPUNC's move into eBooks and new publishing models., 2011 was the year that digital publishing came into its own, and readers and retailers adapted accordingly., The lowdown on getting started in publishing by a local indie publisher., The librarian turns impresario and Should books carry advertising?
In some cities, liveability looks a lot like survival, David Nichols discovers., David Nichols takes to the Big Apple, bad pretzels and all., Our liveability series continues with visits to two lesser-known, but eminently liveable, towns., David Nichols finds a Celtic tiger with egg on its face., David Nichols goes a little gaga for Tel Aviv in the second instalment of this week's liveability series. and This week, David Nichols undertakes his own liveability survey, beginning today in Hong Kong.
As Wikipedia blacks its English site out for a day and other sites obscure their text with black strips, we glance at the discussion surrounding online piracy and freedom of speech., In this era of outspoken bloggers, commenters and anonymous slanderers, where's the love?, Focus on copyright reform., Libraries, online journalism, climate inaction, money and crime - a guide to the best-of-the-web. and The web's best resource is dominated by geeky 26 year-old men.