Event and Ticketing Details
Dates & Times
Thursday 29 March
7:15 PM - 8:15 PM
Robert Dessaix has long been one of Australia’s foremost essayists. His latest collection, As I Was Saying, is a swirling conversation with the reader on everything from travel to dogs and cats, from sport and swearing to the pleasures of idleness.
A compelling public speaker, Dessaix brings his trademark eloquence to this leisurely guided tour of his chamber of curiosities.
Featuring
Robert Dessaix
Robert Dessaix is a writer, translator, broadcaster and occasional essayist.
From 1985 to 1995, after teaching Russian language and literature for many years at the Australian National University and the University of New South Wales, he presented the weekly Books and Writing program on ABC Radio National. In more recent years, he has also presented radio series on Australian public intellectuals and great travellers in history, as well as regular programs on language.
Robert’s best known books, all translated into several European languages, are his autobiography A Mother’s Disgrace, the novels Night Letters and Corfu, a collection of essays and short stories (And So Forth) and the travel memoirs Twilight Of Love and Arabesques. His latest book is the memoir What Days Are For.
A full-time writer since 1995, Robert Dessaix lives in Hobart, Tasmania.
Crusader Hillis
Crusader Hillis is a writer, editor, curator and producer. He co-founded (with Rowland Thomson) the queer bookshop Hares & Hyenas in 1991.
In its 23-year history, Hares & Hyenas has presented over 700 literary and performance events, both here and interstate. Since becoming a licensed performance venue in 2012, the venue has presented over 300 events ranging from spoken word to circus, burlesque, dance and theatre.
Rowland and Crusader believe in community development from the ground up, and have helped to develop cultural work by many in our community who would not otherwise have the opportunity. In particular they have worked to develop arts and cultural expression by transgender, disabled, Deaf, Indigenous, HIV-positive and sex-positive people from all backgrounds and persuasions, to name just a few communities they have worked with. Hares & Hyenas has deservedly won the hearts of Melburnians and continues to push the boundaries in all directions.
Crusader’s fiction and non-fiction has been published in magazines and newspapers here and in the UK. He has had a parallel career in the arts, having worked as marketing manager at Melbourne Festival, director/CEO of Gasworks Arts Park and working as a freelance consultant and writer for a host of Australian arts organisations.