UWA Publishing author Brian Dibble has just been short listed for the Prime Minister’s Literary Award for his biography of prominent WA writer - Elizabeth Jolley.

Doing Life, which was published by UWAP in 2008, is the fruit of more than a decade of research into the life of Jolley, who was Dibble’s close friend and colleague.

Dibble was given complete access to the writer’s private papers as well as Jolley’s own authorisation to access her personal documents in the State Library of NSW/Mitchell Library - currently under embargo until 2032.

Director of UWAP, Terri-ann White said she was extremely pleased with the short listing.
“Elizabeth Jolley is an important part of our literary history. Brian’s heartfelt account of her
intriguing, tumultuous and successful life is essential reading for anyone interested in Australian literature,” she said.

The winners of the Fiction and Non-Fiction categories will receive Australia’s richest literary award—a prize of $100,000 each. The winners will be announced later in the year.

Minister for the Arts Peter Garrett said the 2009 Non-Fiction shortlist was a wide selection of works that covered biographies of key Australian figures, put Australian history under the microscope, and tackled Indigenous and contemporary issues.

“The shortlists have been recommended by the Fiction and Non-Fiction judging panels after reviewing 254 entries to the 2009 Awards. This is a strong sign that the Australian literary sector is healthy and thriving,” he added.

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