National Biography Award

The National Biography Award, established in Australia in 1996, is awarded for the best published work of biographical or autobiographical writing by an Australian. It aims "to encourage the highest standards of writing biography and autobiography and to promote public interest in those genres".State Library of New South Wales It was initially awarded every two years, but from 2002 it has been awarded annually. Its administration was taken over by the State Library of New South Wales in 1998.

History of the Award

It was originally endowed by private benefactor, Dr. Geoffrey Cains, and the original prize money was $12,500. In 2002, Cains said of endowing the award that "I wanted to give back to literature something, it had given me so much; besides, philanthropy in this country is so overlooked and diminished".Angela Bennie. They're six of the best. Sydney Morning Herald, 1 March 2002 In 2005, the prize money was increased to $20,000 with the support of Michael Crouch.State Library of New South Wales (2005) Belinda Hutchinson, former President of the Library Council of NSW, expressed gratitude for this increase to "an award that celebrates the Australian psyche through distinguished biography writing."

In 2012 the prize money for the Award has been increased to $25,000. Since 2013, each shortlisted author receives $1,000.{{Cite web|url=http://www.sl.nsw.gov.au/about-library-awards/national-biography-award|title=National Biography Award - About the award|access-date=7 June 2017}} The judging panel varies from year to year. In 2018 the Michael Crouch Award was introduced for an Australian writer's first published biography.{{Cite journal|date=Spring 2018|title=National Biography Award|url=https://www.sl.nsw.gov.au/sites/default/files/5197_slmag_spring_web-screen.pdf|journal=SL Magazine|volume= 11| issue = 3|pages= 6}}

The shortlist is announced in early July each year, followed by the winner announcement in early August.

Winners

2024: Lamisse Hamouda for The Shape of Dust: a father wrongly imprisoned. A daughter's quest to free him{{Cite web |title=National Biography Award |url=https://www.sl.nsw.gov.au/awards/national-biography-award |website=State Library of New South Wales}}
2023: Ann-Marie Priest for My Tongue Is My Own: A Life of Gwen Harwood{{Cite web |date=2020-05-21 |title=National Biography Award |url=https://www.sl.nsw.gov.au/awards/national-biography-award |access-date=2023-08-09 |website=State Library of NSW}}
2022: Bernadette Brennan for Leaping into Waterfalls: The Enigmatic Gillian Mears{{Cite web |title=National Biography Award |url=https://www.sl.nsw.gov.au/awards/national-biography-award/2022-winner-leaping-waterfalls-enigmatic-gillian-mears |website=State Library of NSW}}{{Cite web |title=Leaping into Waterfalls: The enigmatic Gillian Mears (Bernadette Brennan, A&U) |url=https://www.booksandpublishing.com.au/articles/2021/08/10/191174/leaping-into-waterfalls-the-enigmatic-gillian-mears-bernadette-brennan-au/ |access-date=24 August 2022 |website=Books + Publishing}}
2021: Cassandra Pybus for Truganini: Journey Through the Apocalypse{{Cite web|title=Truganini|url=https://www.sl.nsw.gov.au/awards/national-biography-award/2021-winner-truganini|access-date=26 August 2021|website=State Library of New South Wales}}{{Cite web|date=2021-08-05|title=National Biography Award winner's announced on ABC Sydney|url=https://www.abc.net.au/radio/sydney/national-biography-award/13483978|access-date=2021-08-26|website=ABC Radio|language=en}}
2020: Patrick Mullins for Tiberius with a Telephone: The Life and Stories of William McMahon{{Cite web|date=2020-08-31|title='Tiberius with a Telephone' wins National Biography Award|url=https://www.booksandpublishing.com.au/articles/2020/08/31/155902/tiberius-with-a-telephone-wins-national-biography-award/|access-date=2020-10-27|website=Books+Publishing|language=en-AU}}{{Cite web|title=Tiberius with a Telephone: The life and stories of William McMahon|url=https://www.sl.nsw.gov.au/awards/national-biography-award/2020-winner-tiberius-telephone|url-status=live|archive-url=https://www.sl.nsw.gov.au/awards/national-biography-award|archive-date=18 August 2021|access-date=24 August 2021|website=State Library of New South Wales}}
2019: Behrouz Boochani for No Friend But the Mountains: Writing from Manus Prison{{Cite web|url=https://www.sl.nsw.gov.au/impassioned-letter-manus-island-wins-2019-national-biography-award|title='Impassioned letter' from Manus Island wins 2019 National Biography Award|date=2019-08-12|website=State Library of NSW|access-date=2019-08-12}}
2018: Judith Brett for The Enigmatic Mr Deakin{{Cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/books/2018/aug/06/judith-brett-wins-national-biography-award-for-profound-look-at-life-of-alfred-deakin|title=Judith Brett wins National Biography award for 'profound' look at life of Alfred Deakin|last=Convery|first=Stephanie|date=2018-08-06|website=the Guardian|language=en|access-date=2018-08-06}}
2017: [https://tomrobertsresearch.com Tom D C Roberts] for Before Rupert: Keith Murdoch and the Birth of a Dynasty{{cite news|last1=Romei|first1=Stephen|title=Keith Murdoch biography nets award for Tom DC Roberts|url=http://www.theaustralian.com.au/arts/books/keith-murdoch-biography-nets-award-for-tom-dc-roberts/news-story/2f9c727822bddd708d3beaaf9c19b0f5|access-date=16 August 2017|publisher=The Australian|date=1 August 2017}}{{Cite journal|date=Spring 2017|title=National Biography Award|url=https://www.sl.nsw.gov.au/sites/default/files/sl_magazine_spring_2017.pdf|journal=SL Magazine|volume= 10| issue = 3|page=6}}
2016: Brenda Niall for Mannix{{cite web|title='Mannix' wins 2016 National Biography Award {{!}} Books+Publishing|url=http://www.booksandpublishing.com.au/articles/2016/08/08/62010/mannix-wins-2016-national-biography-award/|website=Books and Publishing|access-date=9 August 2016}}{{cite web|title=2016 - National Biography Award|url=http://www.sl.nsw.gov.au/about-library-awards/2016-national-biography-award|website=State Library of NSW|access-date=9 August 2016}}
2015: Philip Butterss for An Unsentimental Bloke: The Life and Work of C J Dennis {{cite web|title=National Biography Award 2015 Winner|url=http://www.sl.nsw.gov.au/about-library-awards-national-biography-award/2015-national-biography-award|website=State Library of New South Wales|access-date=6 July 2016}}
2014: Alison Alexander for The Ambitions of Jane Franklin: Victorian Lady Adventurer{{cite news|last=Begley|first=Patrick|title=Alison Alexander wins National Biography Award for The Ambitions of Jane Franklin|url=http://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/books/alison-alexander-wins-national-biography-award-for-the-ambitions-of-jane-franklin-20140804-zza3e.html|access-date=27 June 2015|newspaper=Sydney Morning Herald|date=4 August 2014}}
2013: Peter Fitzpatrick for The Two Frank Thrings{{cite news|last=Steger|first=Jason|title=Frank Thring double bill wins biography award|url=http://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/books/frank-thring-double-bill-wins-biography-award-20130805-2r8ou.html|access-date=7 August 2013|newspaper=Sydney Morning Herald|date=5 August 2013}}
2012: Martin Thomas for The Many Worlds of R. H. Mathews: In Search of an Australian Anthropologist{{cite web|title=Dr Martin Thomas wins 2012 National Biography Award|url=http://history.cass.anu.edu.au/story/dr-martin-thomas-wins-2012-national-biography-award|publisher=Australian National University|access-date=22 July 2013}}
2011: Alasdair McGregor for Grand Obsessions: The Life and Work of Walter Burley Griffin and Marion Mahony Griffin{{cite web|title="National Biography Award – Past Winners" |publisher= State Library of NSW|url=https://www.sl.nsw.gov.au/awards/national-biography-award?page=2|access-date= 22 March 2024}}
2010: Brian Matthews for Manning Clark: A Life
2009: Ann Blainey for I am Melba
2008: Joint winners
Philip Dwyer for Napoleon, 1769-1799: The Path to Power
Graham Seal for These Few Lines: A Convict Story – The Lost Lives of Myra and William Sykes
2007: Jacob Rosenberg for East of Time
2006: John Hughes for The Idea of Home
2005: Robert Hillman for The Boy in the Green Suit
2004: Barry Hill for Broken Song: T.G.H. Strehlow and Aboriginal Possession
2003: Joint winners
Peter Rose for Rose Boys
Don Watson for Recollections of a Bleeding Heart : a Portrait of Paul Keating PM
2002: Jacqueline Kent for A Certain Style: Beatrice Davis, a Literary Life
2000: Joint winners
Peter Robb for M, a biography of European painter Caravaggio
Mandy Sayer for Dreamtime Alice: a Memoir
1998: Roberta Sykes for Snake Cradle
1996: Abraham Biderman for The World of My Past

National Biography Award Lecture

In 2003, the National Biography Award lecture was instituted. It is associated with the award, and was also sponsored by Cains and Crouch. It is given annually, but takes place during the same week as the announcement of the winner.

2018: Unauthorised, by Tom D C Roberts{{Cite web|url=http://www.sl.nsw.gov.au/events/national-biography-award-lecture-unauthorised-tom-dc-roberts|title=National Biography Award Lecture: 'Unauthorised' with Tom DC Roberts|date=2018-06-06|website=State Library of NSW|language=en-AU|access-date=2018-08-06}}
2017: A tale finds its teller: writing the biography of Thea Astley, by Karen Lamb{{cite news|title=ACU author to give the Annual Lecture in Biography|url=http://www.acu.edu.au/staff/our_university/newsroom/new_archive/acu_author_to_give_the_annual_lecture_in_biography_at_slnsw|access-date=5 March 2018|work=Newsroom|agency=Australian Catholic University|issue=27 July 2017}}
2016: For better or worse: The relationship between biographer and subject, by Philip Butterss{{Cite web|url=http://www.sl.nsw.gov.au/events/national-biography-award-lecture|title=National Biography Award Lecture 2016|website=State Library of New South Wales|access-date=7 June 2017}}
2015: Biography and me: notes on the wonders of others (and some on self), by Kim Williams AM{{Cite web|url=http://www.sl.nsw.gov.au/node/27976/share|title=Lecture by Kim Williams AM as part of the National Biography Award Lecture Series|website=State Library of NSW|access-date=7 June 2017}}
2014: Based on a true story, by Linda Jaivin{{Cite web|url=https://www4.sl.nsw.gov.au/events/national_biography_award_lecture_2014|title=National Biography Award Lecture 2014|access-date=7 June 2017}}
2013: A different perspective, a shared story, by John Elder Robison{{cite web|title=2013 National Biography Award Lecture John Elder Robison - A different perspective, a shared story|url=http://www.sl.nsw.gov.au/events/events_talks/events/2013_NBA_Lecture.html|access-date=22 July 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130729032500/http://www.sl.nsw.gov.au/events/events_talks/events/2013_NBA_Lecture.html|archive-date=29 July 2013}}
2012: Looking for Eliza by Evelyn Juers{{cite web|title=National Biography Award Lecture: Looking For Eliza|url=http://historycouncilnsw.org.au/whats-on/post/national-biography-award-lecture-looking-for-eliza/|publisher=History Council NSW|access-date=22 July 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130513123923/http://historycouncilnsw.org.au/whats-on/post/national-biography-award-lecture-looking-for-eliza/|archive-date=13 May 2013}}
2011: Recollections of a Bleeding Heart: A Portrait of Paul Keating PM, by Don Watson
2010: Biography: The Art of the Impossible, by Hilary McPhee AO
2009: ‘Truth’ as applied to biography and autobiography, by Raimond Gaita
2008: Biography, Autobiography and Memoir: Presidential Bests and Worsts, by Bob Carr[http://www.sl.nsw.gov.au/Events/events_talks/events/biography_lecture.html National Biography Award Lecture 2008]
2007: Biography: The Impossible Art, by Inga ClendinnenInga Clendinnen on the impossibility of biography
2006: Materials for Life: The Enduring Value of Biography, by Robyn Archer
2005: Personal Drama: David Williamson on Self-depiction, by David Williamson
2004: The Observed of all Observers: Biography in Poetry, by Peter Porter (poet)
2003: Goethe's Two Left Feet: Reflections on the Hazards and Liberties of Biography, by Peter Rose (writer)

References

External links

[http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2005/02/23/1109046979964.html Bennie, Angela (2005) "Award draws people with a tale to tell" in The Sydney Morning Herald, 23 February 2005]
[http://members.iimetro.com.au/~elgovor/MyDarkBrother/Award.htm Bennie, Angela (2002) "They're six of the best" in The Sydney Morning Herald, 1 March 2002]
[http://www.abc.net.au/rn/bookshow/stories/2007/2080177.htm "Inga Clendinnen on the impossibility of biography" (lecture), on ABC Radio National The Book Show, 2007-11-09] Accessed: 2007-11-09
[http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2003/03/14/1047583699702.html Knox, Malcolm (2003) 'Dual winners in Biography Prize's latest chapter' in The Sydney Morning Herald, 14 March 2003]
[https://www.sl.nsw.gov.au/awards/national-biography-award State Library of New South Wales, National Biography Award Home Page]

Category:Biography awards

Category:Australian literary awards

Category:Awards established in 1996

Category:Australian non-fiction book awards