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About Australian Book Review (23)

Media Contact

17 March 2023 Written by Georgina Arnott

For all media related enquiries, please contact ABR Editor Peter Rose at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

ABR Rising Stars

29 October 2019 Written by Australian Book Review

2021, QLD

Mindy GillMindy GillABR is pleased to announce its fifth Rising Star: Mindy Gill. A poet, critic, and former editor-in-chief of Peril magazine (2017–2020), Mindy is currently undertaking a PhD in Creative Writing at Queensland University of Technology. She has won the Queensland Premier’s Young Publishers and Writers Award and the Tom Collins Poetry Prize, as well as a number of prestigious international fellowships. Her collection of poems, August Burns the Sky, was shortlisted for the Thomas Shapcott Poetry Prize.

The Rising Stars program – generously funded by the ABR patrons – is intended to advance the careers of younger writers and critics whose early contributions to ABR have impressed readers and editors alike.

On becoming our latest Rising Star, Mindy Gill commented: 

I am delighted to be named ABR’s fifth Rising Star; the confidence that the magazine has placed in me is an honour. I feel fortunate to write for a publication so dedicated to enriching the marketplace of ideas, especially in a cultural climate as tenuous as this one. But above all, I feel extraordinarily lucky to receive Peter Rose’s mentorship and guidance. Since I began writing for ABR, I have been moved by the staunch support Peter extends to his writers, and how strongly he values and encourages their independence of thought. I look forward to writing criticism that embodies the magazine’s rigour, fearlessness and uncompromising vision, and can think of no better place to cut my teeth as a young writer.

Peter Rose, Editor of ABR, commented: 

ABR is acutely aware of the challenges facing freelance writers (especially younger ones) during the pandemic. The Rising Stars program assumes even greater importance as we mentor our best young writers and critics. Mindy Gill has made a real impression since joining the magazine in 2020. We look forward to working with our new Rising Star.

 

Recent writing for ABR:

Review of Racism edited by Winnie Dunn, Stephen Pham, and Phoebe Grainer
Review of Revenge: Murder in three parts by S.L. Lim
Review of We Were Never Friends by Margaret Bearman

 


 

2021, Vic.

Anders Villani (photograph by Jesper Hede)Anders Villani (photograph by Jesper Hede)ABR is delighted to introduce its fourth Rising Star – Anders Villani. Anders began writing for ABR in late 2020, soon after taking part in an ABR publishing masterclass. He holds an MFA from the University of Michigan’s Helen Zell Writers’ Program, where he received the Delbanco Prize for poetry. His first full-length collection, Aril Wire, was released in 2018 by Five Islands Press. A PhD Candidate in Creative Writing at Monash University, he lives in Melbourne; his doctoral research concerns poetic representations of trauma.

The Rising Stars program is intended to advance the careers of younger writers and critics whose early contributions to ABR have impressed readers and editors alike.

On becoming our latest Rising Star, Anders Villani commented: 

What began as an ABR masterclass at Monash University has bloomed into perhaps the most enriching partnership yet in my artistic and intellectual life – and now this extraordinary accolade. Poetry has been at the heart of my involvement with the magazine: as a reviewer; as a creative contributor; and, most recently, as assistant poetry editor. In each of these capacities, I have witnessed and benefited from ABR’s invaluable ongoing commitment to poetry in Australia. As the new Rising Star, I consider it my mandate to deepen that commitment, and I am so excited and honoured to get to work. In a precarious cultural landscape, ABR offers a beacon, as it has for generations. That it has not only survived the pandemic but grown stronger is a testament to its resilience and importance. I could not have wished for a better platform for doing what I love.

Recent writing for ABR:

Review of Prose Poetry: An introduction by Paul Hetherington and Cassandra Atherton
'Marlin', a new poem by Anders Villani
Review of three new poetry collections by Luke Best, Todd Turner, and Angela Gardner 

 


 

2020, Vic.

Declan Fry ABR is delighted to name its third Rising Star, Declan Fry. The Rising Stars program is intended to encourage younger writers and critics whose early contributions to ABR have made an impression. We work closely with the Rising Stars, commissioning them often and helping them to enhance their critical work and to advance their careers.

On becoming our latest Rising Star, Declan Fry commented:

We live in a continent rich with stories. Many of these are still being told, and deserve to be widely heard. One of my earliest memories of writing publications was seeing ABR down at the local library. In a difficult environment for the arts, ABR’s support for new and emerging talent is vital. To be able to connect with ABR having never published or worked with literary journals before speaks volumes, especially during the isolation of this pandemic. Opportunities like the Rising Stars initiative are a great privilege – a place to hone your writing practice, and to develop a long-term investment in the work. It gives me a real sense of hope knowing that there is a space for considered, thoughtful analysis. This opportunity would mean nothing without those who have paved the way – our ancestors, Elders, family, mentors, and teachers. They are the original critics and storytellers. We owe them so much. I can’t wait to get started! Much love and stay deadly, ABR.

About Declan Fry

Declan Fry is an essayist, critic, and proud descendant of the Yorta Yorta. Born on Wongatha country in Kalgoorlie, in 2009 he received the Tom Collins Prize in Australian Literature, and, as joint winner, the Todhunter Literary Award in 2013. He currently lives on unceded Wurundjeri and Boon Wurrung land and is a board member of Books ‘n’ Boots, an organisation which distributes football boots and books to remote and regional Aboriginal communities. He first published in ABR in June 2020.

 

Recent writing for ABR:

Review of After Australia edited by Michael Mohammed Ahmad
Review of Fire Front: First Nations poetry and power today edited by Alison Whittaker
Review of Elephants with Headlights by Bem Le Hunte


Previous Rising Stars

 

2019, NSW

Alex Tighe

Alex TigheAlex Tighe is a writer and editor, and the winner of the University of Sydney’s 2018 Wentworth Medal essay prize. He is the ABC / Kidney Health Australia’s inaugural Mark Colvin Scholar. 

Recent writing for ABR:

Review of Stop Being Reasonable by Eleanor Gordon-Smith
Review of Delayed Response by Jason Farman
Review of Net Loss by Sebastian Smee

 

2019, Vic.

Sarah Walker 

Sarah Walker Sarah Walker is a Melbourne-based writer, photographer, and fine artist. In 2017 she won the Sydney Road Writer’s Cup and the Sydney Road Storytelling Prize, and was a runner-up in the Darebin Mayor’s Writing Award. She was runner-up in the 2019 Calibre Essay Prize.  

Recent writing for ABR:

Review of Sky Swimming: Reflection on auto/biography, people and place by Sylvia Martin
'Contested breath: The ethics of assembly in an age of absurdity' by Sarah Walker
2019 Calibre Essay Prize (runner-up): 'Floundering' by Sarah Walker
 

ABR Publishing Profile

04 April 2019 Written by Australian Book Review

Issue #1, June 1978Issue #1, June 1978Australian Book Review is one of the country’s leading cultural magazines. Founded in 1961 in Adelaide and revived in Melbourne in 1978, it is an independent, not-for-profit magazine committed to publishing critical and creative writing of the highest standard. Through its print and digital publishing, website, prizes, fellowships, events, and partnerships, ABR makes a major contribution to Australia’s culture of ideas. 

The magazine publishes in-depth literary and arts reviews as well as new poetry and fiction, essays, commentaries, and interviews. ABR also reviews films, television, music, theatre, opera, dance, festivals, and art exhibitions.

ABR is a strong advocate of proper support and remuneration for freelance reviewers. We pay for everything we publish – print and online – and we pay increasingly well.

ABR is a powerful generator of ideas and creative writing, and a key supporter of fresh talent. Few publications support writers and editors through such varied and lucrative programs.

 

Editors

ABR issue one 1961First issue, 1961 (series one)First Series

1961 to 1974 - Geoffrey Dutton, Max Harris, and Rosemary Wighton

Second series:

1978 to 1986 - John McLaren
1986 to 1987 - Kerryn Goldsworthy
1988 - Louise Adler
1989 to 1995 - Rosemary Sorensen
1995 to 2000 - Helen Daniel
2001 to present day - Peter Rose

 

Find out more about ABR Staff, the ABR Board, the ABR Laureates, and contributors to the first and second series. A timeline of major events from ABR’s history can be found here.

 

ABR Print Publishing

ABR publishes reviews, commentaries, interviews, essays, surveys, and creative writing. In general ABR publishes approximately 500 features in print each year by 300 contributors. Roughly 90 or 100 of these contributors will be new to the magazine. ABR is open to approaches from new contributors and you can find out more here. ABR publishes an annual index of our print content here (from 2017 we have also indexed our digital content). Prior to 2021, ABR published ten issues per year. In June 2021, we added an eleventh issue.

 

ABR Print Edition Statistics and Gender Breakdown 

Below is a gender breakdown from the print edition between 2014 and 2022. (NB this table only includes information about items published in the print edition. It does not include our wider digital content. Statistics on non-binary contributors are only included when known.)  

 

Year

Features published in the print edition

Percentage of those features written by: 

Number of new contributors

Men

Women

Non-binary authors

2014

457

56%

44%

 

91

2015

536

60%

40%

 

103

2016

501

61%

39%

 

74

2017

501

57%

43%

 

88

2018

530

54%

46%

 

93

2019

485

52%

48%

 

83

2020

492

53%

46%

1%

82

2021

494

51%

48%

1%

76

2022

463

54%

45%

1%

71

 

Interviews

We have published 181 interviews with a wide range of authors, critics, poets, and publishers including Tim Winton, Maxine Beneba Clarke, Geraldine Brooks, Hazel Rowley, Carmen Callil, and Sheila Fitzpatrick

Surveys

ABR regularly publishes surveys of groups of critics, publishers, and commentators on a range of subjects including the following: Books of the Year, Arts Highlights of the Year, and Publisher Picks

The ABR Favourite Australian Novel polls

Back in 2009, when we sought readers’ nominations for the ABR Favourite Australian Novel (any era, any genre), we anticipated goodly interest, ABR readers being a passionate and well-read bunch. But we hadn’t expected to be inundated with quite so many faxes and emails. In the end we received thousands of votes for some 290 Australian novels. Tim Winton’s Cloudstreet, a perennial favourite since its publication in 1991, was the overwhelming favourite – by a margin of three to one to its nearest rival, Henry Handel Richardson’s The Fortunes of Richard Mahony, which was closely followed by Patrick White’s Voss and Winton’s most recent novel, Breath. Particularly heartening was the large number of nineteenth-century novels and those published before the remarkable expansion of fiction publishing in the last quarter of the twentieth century. The following feature, which appeared in the February 2010 issue, lists the top twenty Favourite Australian Novels. 

In 2019 we asked readers to nominate their Favourite Australian Novel published since 2000.

Advocacy and engagement

ABR, though not politically aligned, is an engaged and responsive magazine. From time to time, we publish open letters on key social or political questions. These include an Open Letter on Marriage Equality and an Open Letter on the importance of saving the ABC. 

ABR Online Exclusives

Not all ABR’s publishing appears in the print magazine. We publish a wide range of online exclusives and previews including book and arts reviews, creative writing, essays and interviews, and podcasts. These appear online in ABR Arts, States of Poetry, Reading Australia, ABR Fiction, Book Talk, and ABR Online Exclusives. Some additional articles also appear as online exclusives in recent online issues of the magazine.

Prizes and Programs

ABR presents three prestigious international literary prizes (for poetry, essays and short stories), a vibrant Fellowship program, and a prestigious Laureate’s program. We also offer regular paid Editorial Internships.

Laureates

To recognise the work of distinguished Australian artists, ABR has to date named three ABR Laureates.

  • David Malouf (2014)
  • Robyn Archer (2016)
  • Sheila Fitzpatrick (2023)

Fellows

Since 2011 ABR has awarded twenty-one Fellowships to twelve women and nine men. The Fellows are listed below under the year of publication. Find out more about the Published and current Fellows and read their essays.

ABR Editorial Internships

Since 2009 ABR has awarded eight paid Editorial Internships as part of our highly successful program. The most recent ABR Editorial Intern was Jack Callil.

In 2021, with support from the Judith Neilson Institute for Journalism and Ideas, ABR offered a paid Editorial Cadetship. The first of these ABR Editorial Cadets was James Jiang.

Find out more about past Editorial Cadets and Interns

ABR Elizabeth Jolley Short Story Prize

Since 2010 ABR has awarded the Jolley Prize to fifteen writers (the prize was shared in 2011). Forty-seven writers have been shortlisted for the prize. As with all our prizes the Jolley Prize is judged blind. Since 2010 ABR has shortlisted thirty-five women, eleven men, and one non-binary author. Since the prize was internationalised in 2014 we have shortlisted ten writers from overseas. The winners and shortlisted authors are listed below. Find out more about the past winners of the Jolley Prize and read their stories via our Past Winners page.

Calibre Essay Prize

Since 2007 ABR has awarded the Calibre Essay Prize to twenty-one writers (the prize was shared in 2008, 2009, 2010, and 2011). Calibre was internationalised in 2015 and as with all our prizes it is judged blind. Since 2010 the Calibre Prize has been won by eleven men, nine women, and one non-binary author. The winning authors are listed below. In 2017 ABR introduced a second prize and this has been won by six women and one man. Find out more about the past winners of the Calibre Prize via our Past Winners page

Peter Porter Poetry Prize

Since 2005 ABR has awarded the Peter Porter Poetry Prize to twenty-two writers (the prize was shared in 2011, 2017, and 2019) and 101 poems have been shortlisted for the prize. As with all our prizes the Porter Prize is judged blind. Since 2010 ABR has shortlisted fifty-two poems by men and forty-nine poems by women. Since the prize was internationalised in 2014 we have shortlisted twelve writers from overseas. The winners and shortlisted authors are listed below. Find out more about the past winners of the Porter Prize and read their poems via our Past Winners page.

From Prize to Publication

Many past ABR prize shortlisted entrants have gone on to publish full-length works (novels, short story collections, films etc) based on, or including, their shortlisted or winning works. We have listed some of these below.

Reading Australia

ABR commissioned and published twenty-six essays on major Australian writers as part of the Australia Council’s Reading Australia project. These essays are all available open access online.

States of Poetry

Between 2016 and 2018 ABR published nearly four hundred poems by eighty poets as part of States of Poetry, a federally arranged poetry anthology supported by Copyright Agency Limited that also included podcasts. Anthologies were published by poets from New South Wales, Victoria, Western Australia, Tasmania, Queensland and the ACT. These anthologies are all open access. The poets and state editors are listed below.


Editorial note

The statistics listed above were last updated on 16 October 2023. The information on this page will continue to be updated and expanded over time.

ABR Photos

06 April 2018 Written by Australian Book Review

The following photos record key events, prizes, ceremonies, tours, and personalities since 2001. Australian Book Review holds copyright in all these photos but no permission is required to reproduce them. We seek acknowledgment that Australian Book Review is the copyright holder. For higher resolution versions of the images, please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

 

Peter Rose and Sheila Fitzpatrick in conversation at the State Library of Victoria as Fitzpatrick becomes the third ABR Laureate, 2023. Peter Rose and Sheila Fitzpatrick in conversation at the State Library of Victoria as Fitzpatrick becomes the third ABR Laureate, 2023.

Peter Rose, Sheila Fitzpatrick and Monash Dean of Arts Katie Stevenson at the Laureate event at the State Library of Victoria, 2023. Peter Rose, Sheila Fitzpatrick and Monash Dean of Arts Katie Stevenson at the Laureate event at the State Library of Victoria, 2023.

A. Frances Johnson wins the 2020 Peter Porter Poetry Prize (photograph by David Johns)A. Frances Johnson wins the 2020 Peter Porter Poetry Prize (photograph by David Johns)

Peter Rose interviews ABR Laureate David Malouf  in Adelaide, 2019Peter Rose interviews ABR Laureate David Malouf in Adelaide, 2019

Lisa Gorton speaks at an ABR function, 2019Lisa Gorton speaks at an ABR function, 2019

Billy Griffiths speaks at an ABR function, 2019Billy Griffiths speaks at an ABR function, 2019

(L-R): Peter Rose with Rae Frances (centre) and Calibre Essay Prize winners David Hansen and Grace Karskens, August 2019(L-R): Peter Rose with Rae Frances (centre) and Calibre Essay Prize winners David Hansen and Grace Karskens, August 2019

Helen Daniel (Editor of ABR 1995–2000) with Robert Dessaix, a contributor since 1981Helen Daniel (Editor of ABR 1995–2000) with Robert Dessaix, a contributor since 1981

Judge Maxine Beneba Clarke and Jolley Prize winner Sonja Dechian at the 2019 Jolley Prize ceremony (photograph by Daniel O'Brien)Judge Maxine Beneba Clarke and Jolley Prize winner Sonja Dechian at the 2019 Jolley Prize ceremony (photograph by Daniel O'Brien)

2019 Jolley Prize shortlist (L-R): Morgan Nunan, Sonja Dechian, Raaza Jamshed (photograph by Daniel O'Brien)2019 Jolley Prize shortlist (L-R): Morgan Nunan, Sonja Dechian, Raaza Jamshed (photograph by Daniel O'Brien)

Peter Rose interviews George Megalogenis at Clunes Booktown Festival, 2019Peter Rose interviews George Megalogenis at Clunes Booktown Festival, 2019


The 2019 Porter Prize shortlist: Ross Gillett, Mark Tredinnick, Belle Ling, Andy Kissane, and John FoulcherThe 2019 Porter Prize shortlist: Ross Gillett, Mark Tredinnick, Belle Ling, Andy Kissane, and John Foulcher


Porter two winnersThe 2019 Porter Prize joint winners: Belle Ling and Andy Kissane


ABR Fellow Beejay Silcox in Cairo, Egypt (November, 2018)ABR Fellow Beejay Silcox in Cairo, Egypt (November, 2018)


John Hawke Morag Fraser Nicholas Wong Peter Rose Porter Prize event 2018John Hawke Morag Fraser Nicholas Wong Peter Rose Porter Prize event 2018


Peter Rose and Sarah Holland Batt at Writers Week 2018Peter Rose and Sarah Holland Batt at Writers Week 2018 


Peter Rose and Pam Brown at Writers Week 2018Peter Rose and Pam Brown at Writers Week 2018


Porter Prize 2017Porter Prize 2017


2017 UK tour CJM at the Wallace CollectionChristopher Menz leads the 2017 ABR UK tour.


Michael Adams and Darius Sepehri at Calibre Essay Prize event 2017Michael Adams and Darius Sepehri at Calibre Essay Prize event 2017


2017 States of Poetry Tasmania2017 States of Poetry Tasmania


Peter Rose and Robert Silvers at NYRB 2016Peter Rose and Robert Silvers at NYRB 2016


ABR Jolley ALABJRMBCID


ABR US cultural tour at the Clark Institute 2016ABR US cultural tour at the Clark Institute 2016


Geraldine Brooks Ambassador Caroline Millar Anna Funder ABR US tour 2016Geraldine Brooks Ambassador Caroline Millar Anna Funder ABR US tour 2016


ABR US tour at Concord 2016ABR US tour at Concord 2016


ABR team with Rae Frances at Monash launch 2ABR team with Rae Frances at Monash launch 2


Robyn Archer launches the Arts issue 2016Robyn Archer launches the Arts issue 2016


2016 Porter Prize Amanda Joy2016 Porter Prize Amanda Joy


ABR Patrons Annual Lecture with Kim Williams 2016ABR Patrons Annual Lecture with Kim Williams 2016


ABR Patrons Annual Lecture 2016 Kim WilliamsABR Patrons Annual Lecture 2016 Kim Williams


Ashley Hay 2015Ashley Hay visits the ABR office in 2015


2015 Birth of the ABR PodcastABR Deputy Editor Amy Baillieu edits the first ABR Podcast in 2015.


Jonathan Galassi and Peter Rose at the 2015 Brisbane Writers' FestivalJonathan Galassi and Peter Rose at the 2015 Brisbane Writers' Festival


Calibre Essay prize winner Christine Piper signs the guestbook at Boyd YEAR2014 Calibre Essay Prize winner Christine Piper signs the guestbook at ABR.


2014 ABR Patrons' Fellow Shannon Burns2014 ABR Patrons' Fellow Shannon Burns


ABR Eucalypt Australia (formerly known as the Dahl Trust) Fellow Danielle Clode at the launch of the Environment issue, 2014ABR Eucalypt Australia (formerly known as the Dahl Trust) Fellow Danielle Clode at the launch of the Environment issue, 2014


ABR Laureate David Malouf speaks at an ABR event, 2014ABR Laureate David Malouf speaks at an ABR event, 2014


Morag Fraser speaks at an ABR event, 2014Morag Fraser speaks at an ABR event, 2014


Jennifer Down wins the 2014 ABR Elizabeth Jolley Short Story PrizeJennifer Down wins the 2014 ABR Elizabeth Jolley Short Story Prize


Andy Griffiths and Gerald Murnane at an event at Boyd, 2013Andy Griffiths and Gerald Murnane at an event at Boyd, 2013


Lisa Gorton and Ian Donaldon speak at the first Fireside Chat at Boyd, 2012Lisa Gorton and Ian Donaldon speak at the first Fireside Chat at Boyd, 2012


Peter Rose, Morag Fraser, and Rodney Hall at opening of Boyd in 2012Peter Rose, Morag Fraser, and Rodney Hall at opening of Boyd in 2012


ABR moved to Boyd Community Hub in Southbank in 2012ABR moved to Boyd Community Hub in Southbank in 2012


Ian Dickson, Carrie Tiffany, and Gregory Day at the 2011 Jolley Prize ceremonyIan Dickson, Carrie Tiffany, and Gregory Day at the 2011 Jolley Prize ceremony


ABR Board 2011 Ian Donaldson, Paul Hetherington, Anne Edwards, Peter Rose, Editor Morag Fraser, Chair Colin Golvan and Anna Goldsworthy. ABR Board 2011 Ian Donaldson, Paul Hetherington, Anne Edwards, Peter Rose, Editor Morag Fraser, Chair Colin Golvan and Anna Goldsworthy.


Ian Donaldson gives the ABR Fiftieth Birthday Lecture at the National Library of Australia in 2011Ian Donaldson gives the ABR Fiftieth Birthday Lecture at the National Library of Australia in 2011


The 2003 National Biography Award was shared by Don Watson and Peter RoseThe 2003 National Biography Award was shared by Don Watson and Peter Rose


Peter Rose and Peter Porter 2002Peter Rose and Peter Porter 2002


Current Editor and CEO of Australian Book Review, Peter RoseCurrent Editor and CEO of Australian Book Review, Peter Rose


Peter Rose and Terry Cutler at the launch of the 2001 Summer issuePeter Rose and Terry Cutler at the launch of the 2001 Summer issue

Media releases

03 April 2018 Written by Australian Book Review

2024

April 2024

 pdfApril issue highlights

March 2024

pdfMarch issue highlights

January-February 2024

pdfJanuary-February issue highlights

pdf2024 Peter Porter Poetry Prize winner announced

2023

December 2023

pdfDecember issue highlights

pdf2023 Books of the Year 

pdf2024 Peter Porter Poetry Prize Shortlist announced

November 2023

pdfNovember issue highlights

October 2023

pdfOctober issue highlights

September 2023

pdfSeptember issue highlights

August 2023

pdfAugust issue highlights

pdf2023 Jolley Prize winner announced

July 2023

pdfJuly issue highlights

June 2023

pdfJune issue highlights

May 2023

pdfAnnouncing the third Australian Book Review Laureate

pdfMay issue highlights

April 2023

pdfAnnouncing the 2023 Calibre Prize Shortlist

pdfApril issue highlights

March 2023

pdfMarch issue highlights

January-February 2023

pdfAnnouncing the 2023 Porter Prize winner

pdfJanuary-February issue highlights

pdfAnnouncing the 2023 Porter Prize shortlist

2022

December 2022

pdfDecember issue highlights

pdf2022 Books of the Year

November 2022

pdfNovember issue highlights

October 2022

pdfOctober issue highlights

September 2022

pdfSeptember issue highlights

August 2022

pdfAugust issue highlights

pdfAnnouncing the 2022 Jolley Prize shortlist

pdfTracy Ellis wins the 2022 Jolley Prize

July 2022

pdfJuly issue

June 2022

pdfJune issue

May 2022

pdfMay issue

pdfSimon Tedeschi wins the 2022 Calibre Essay Prize

pdfFrank Bongiorno on party politics

April 2022

pdfApril issue

pdfJames Ley on fiction in the age of Amazon

pdfKieran Pender on the Collaery case

March 2022

pdfMarch issue

pdfMindy Gill on the mire of identity politics

pdfPeter Rose, Editor’s Diary

pdfPolitical interference in research funding

January–February 2022

pdfJanuary–February issue

pdfAnthony Lawrence wins the 2022 Peter Porter Poetry Prize

2021

December 2021

pdfDecember issue

pdfBooks of the Year

November 2021

pdfNovember issue

October 2021

pdfOctober issue

pdfDavid Jack on Bare Life and Health Terror

September 2021

pdfABR Rising Star Mindy Gill

pdfSeptember issue

pdfJoel Deane on Facebook

August 2021

pdfAugust issue

pdfStephen Bennetts on the Dark Emu debate

July 2021

pdf2021 Jolley Prize Shortlist Announcement

pdfJuly issue

June 2021

pdfJune issue

pdfDeclan Fry on 'The gospel of Stan Grant'

pdfIlana Snyder on Israel and Palestine

pdfMartin Thomas on Patrick White

pdfHessom Razavi's 'The Split State'

pdfAnders Villani is ABR's fourth Rising Star

pdfTheodore Ell wins the 2021 Calibre Essay Prize

May 2021

pdfMay issue

April 2021

pdfApril issue

pdfTim Byrne on Australian theatre after lockdown

pdfJames Jiang is the new ABR Editorial Cadet

March 2021

pdfMarch issue

pdfABR welcomes two new Board members

January 2021

pdfJanuary-February issue

pdfPeter Porter Poetry Prize winner

2020

December 2020

pdfDecember issue

pdf2020 Books of the Year

November 2020

pdfNovember issue

pdfHessom Razavi on failures of imagination

October 2020

pdfJohanna Leggatt on Twitter's mob mentality

pdfPaul Muldoon on responses to the pandemic

pdfMichael L. Ondaatje and Timothy Lynch on Donald Trump

pdfOctober issue

September 2020

pdfSeptember issue

pdfMykaela Saunders wins the Jolley Prize

August 2020

pdfAugust issue

pdfGeorgina Arnott on legacies of British slavery

pdfKieran Pender on law's #MeToo moment

pdfJames Ley on the federal government's attitude towards the arts, the ABC and the humanities

pdfDeclan Fry is ABR's third Rising Star

June 2020

pdfJune issue

pdfYves Rees wins the 2020 Calibre Essay Prize

pdfSarah Walker on losing a parent during the pandemic

May 2020

pdfMay Issue

pdfPoetry for troubled times

pdfHessom Razavi - Notes from a pandemic

April 2020

pdfSarah Holland-Batt appointed Chair of Australian Book Review

pdfJenny Hocking on the Palace Letters

March 2020

pdfMessage to Publishers from Australian Book Review

pdfMarch issue

January 2020

pdfPorter Prize winner announced

pdfJanuary-February issue

 

2019

December 2019

pdfDecember issue

November 2019

pdfNovember issue

October 2019

pdfOctober issue

pdfKieran Pender on the war on journalists and whistleblowers

September 2019

pdfSeptember issue

pdfABR announces winner of the 2019 Jolley Prize

August 2019

pdfAugust issue

June 2019

pdfJune-July issue

May 2019

pdfMay issue

pdfFelicity Plunkett available for interview - Nick Cave

April 2019

pdfApril issue

pdfKieran Pender available for interview - Moneyland

pdfDaniel Halliday available for interview - Tax Justice

pdfPeter Rose available for interview - Nam Le On David Malouf

March 2019

pdf March issue

pdfAnnouncing the Porter Prize winner

pdfBarney Zwartz available for interview - The Vatican

pdfAlicia Simmonds available for interview - Married At First Sight

February 2019

pdf Announcing the 2019 ABR Patrons' Fellow

pdfAnnouncing the Peter Porter Poetry Prize shortlist

pdfDominic Kelly available for interview - Trouble at MUP

January 2019

pdfJanuary-February issue

2018

December 2018

pdfABR December issue

November 2018

pdfJoy Damousi and academics respond to ARC controversy

pdfBeejay Silcox on the rise of Misery Literature

pdfABR November issue

October 2018

pdfABR October issue 

pdfLouise Adler available for interview - Benjamin Netanyahu

September 2018

pdfABR September issue

August 2018

pdfABR announces the winner of the 2018 Jolley Prize

pdfBeejay Silcox on MFA programs

pdfABR August Fiction issue

July 2018

pdfShortlist announced for the ABR 2018 Elizabeth Jolley Short Story Prize

pdfABR's Open Letter on the ABC

June 2018

pdfABR July Film and Television issue

pdfJames McNamara, guest editor of the JuneJuly Film and Television issue, available for interview

pdfFelicity Chaplin available for interview – the #MeToo movement in Hollywood

pdfSally Grant available for interview – The book and film adaptation of The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie

pdfDilan Gunawardana available for interview – On Black Panther

May 2018

pdfMay issue

pdfKirsten Tranter available for interview – 2018 Calibre Essay Prize (runner-up): 'Once Again: Outside in the House of Art'

pdfAlan Atkinson available for interview – The Bible in Australia: A cultural history by Meredith Lake

April 2018

pdfApril issue

pdfKirsten Tranter available for interview

March 2018

pdfMarch issue

pdfAustralian Book Review turns forty

pdfBeejay Silcox on Australian magazine culture

pdfLucas Grainger-Brown wins the 2018 Calibre Essay Prize

pdfNicholas Wong wins the 2018 Peter Porter Poetry Prize

February 2018

pdfABR's Fortieth Birthday Fellow

pdf2018 Peter Porter Poetry Prize shortlist

pdfThe ABR Film Survey

pdfDavid Brophy on Clive Hamilton

pdfPaul Collins available for interview

pdfGideon Haigh available for interview

January 2018

pdfJanuary-February issue

pdf Publisher Picks

pdfMichael Winkler available for interview

For arts companies, galleries, and film distributors

03 April 2018 Written by Australian Book Review

How do arts companies have their productions reviewed in ABR?

ABR publishes timely, extended, knowledgeable reviews of plays, operas, films, concerts of all sorts, dance, festivals and art exhibitions - most of them in Australia, with some from overseas. All reviews appear open-access at ABR Arts. Some later appear in the print edition.

If you would like a production from your company to be considered for review in ABR Arts, please send the relevant information by email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Due to the volume of submissions and our small staff, we cannot guarantee a review and nor do we contact you personally to advise on the commissioning status. If a review is commissioned, a link to the review will be sent to you upon publication.

For publishers

03 April 2018 Written by Australian Book Review

Review copies

Australian Book Review welcomes the interest of publishers and self-published authors and encourages them to familiarise themselves with our publication. While ABR receives many books and cannot commission reviews of them all, we welcome unsolicited review copies of titles that meet ABR’s interests and purview.

Please send books to ABR:

Australian Book Review
Studio 2, 207 City Road
Southbank, VIC 3006

We may ask you for PDFs of certain titles that are especially time-sensitive or that are destined for reviewers in distant locations.

 

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ABR welcomes advertising and offers a variety of platforms and packages to suit different marketing strategies and budgets. This includes advertising in print, on our website, in our regular e-newsletters, and on our weekly podcast. ABR would be delighted to discuss circulation figures and characteristics, art requirements, timelines, prices, and package options. Please contact Amy Baillieu at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or Georgina Arnott at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

 

ABR Podcast

ABR’s weekly podcast features a mix of reviews, as read by the reviewer, and interviews with ABR contributors and book authors. While we welcome interest in the ABR podcast from publishers and are open to pitches from them, ABR commissions and produces all content on its podcast. 

 

How do publishers have their books reviewed in ABR?

ABR encourages publishers and self-published authors to consider whether their book would be suitable for reviewing in ABR by familiarising themselves with the publication. We do not commission reviews for payment or in exchange for advertising.

If you would like a book from your publishing house or independent press to be considered for review, please fill out the form below and send it with a copy of the book to the ABR postal address. Due to the volume of submissions and our small staff, we cannot guarantee a review and nor do we contact you personally to advise on the commissioning status

• Review submission form

About Australian Book Review

03 April 2018 Written by Australian Book Review

Australian Book Review (ABR), one of Australia’s major cultural magazines, presents high-quality journalism and new writing for the widest possible audience. It engages with all the arts, not just literature. It is diverse in terms of content, writers, and partners. It provides a needed forum for new Australian writers and reviewers, and it is committed to raising the standard of arts criticism in Australia.

ABR is an independent, not-for-profit monthly magazine, governed by an independent Board, managed by a small, skilled editorial and management team, and committed to the publication and promotion of creative and critical writing of the highest standard.

Created in 1961, it lapsed in 1974 and was revived in 1978.

Peter Rose is the Editor; and Sarah Holland-Batt is Chairperson of the Board.

ABR publishes reviews, essays, commentaries, interviews and new creative writing. The magazine is national in readership, authorship, distribution, events and partners. It is available in print and online.

Through ABR Arts, ABR engages with all the arts and publishes timely, extended reviews of new films, plays, operas, concerts, dance, festivals, and art exhibitions.

ABR’s diverse programs include three prestigious international prizes, writers’ fellowships worth as much as $10,000, themed issues, national events, cultural tours, and paid editorial internships.

ABR is committed to highlighting the strengths of critical and creative writing around Australia and presenting them to an international audience. We pay for everything we publish – print and online – and our rates have almost trebled in recent years.

ABR is a bona fide Deductible Gift Recipient (DGR). All donations of $2 or more are tax deductible. We have a successful philanthropy program which has helped to transform this magazine in recent years. Our many Patrons are listed elsewhere on the website.

ABR Timeline - Highlights

29 March 2018 Written by Australian Book Review

2024

Dan Hogan wins the Peter Porter Poetry Prize

2023

Sheila Fitzpatrick becomes ABR’s third Laureate
Tracy Ellis wins the Calibre Essay Prize
Dan Disney wins the Peter Porter Poetry Prize
Rowan Heath wins the ABR Elizabeth Jolley Short Story Prize

2022

Simon Tedeschi wins the Calibre Essay Prize
First ABR tour of the Adelaide Festival
Anthony Lawrence wins the Peter Porter Poetry Prize 
Tracy Ellis wins the ABR Elizabeth Jolley Short Story Prize

2021

Sara M. Saleh wins the Peter Porter Poetry Prize
ABR adds an eleventh issue
Theodore Ell wins the Calibre Essay Prize
Camilla Chaudhary wins the ABR Elizabeth Jolley Short Story Prize

2020

A. Frances Johnson wins the Peter Porter Poetry Prize
Sarah Holland-Batt replaces Colin Golvan QC as Chair
ABR Behrouz Boochani Fellow Hessom Razavi writes about the pandemic
Yves Rees wins the Calibre Essay Prize
Mykaela Saunders wins the ABR Elizabeth Jolley Short Story Prize

2019

Felicity Plunkett becomes the 2019 ABR Patrons’ Fellow
Andy Kissane and Belle Ling share the Peter Porter Poetry Prize.
Grace Karskens wins the Calibre Essay Prize
Sonja Dechian wins the ABR Elizabeth Jolley Short Story Prize

2018

ABR celebrates its fortieth birthday
Beejay Silcox becomes the ABR Fortieth Birthday Fellow
Third ABR Cultural Tour (Germany)
ABR Open Letter in support of the ABC signed by 100 writers/commentators/artists/public figures

2017

Four-year funding from the Australia Council
Four ABR Fellowships
Prominent role in the marriage equality campaign including our Open Letter
Michael Heyward is our first Publisher of the Month

2016

New partnership with Monash University
First ABR cultural tour (USA)
Robyn Archer becomes the second ABR Laureate
States of Poetry is launched

2015

Colin Golvan QC succeeds long-time Chair Morag Fraser
First Film & Television issue

2014

Inaugural Environment issue, with the first ABR Eucalypt Fellowship essay by Danielle Clode
Robert Adamson is the first Poet of the Month
David Malouf is named ABR Laureate

2013

Martin Thomas wins the Calibre Essay Prize for his essay “Because it’s your country”: Bringing Back the Bones to West Arnhem Land’ – our best-read online feature to date
Brian Matthews is our first Critic of the Month
Launch of ABR Arts, formerly Arts Update

2012

ABR moves to Boyd Community Hub in Southbank

2011

ABR Online is launched
Gregory Day and Carrie Tiffany share the renamed ABR Elizabeth Jolley Short Story Prize for their stories 'The Neighbour's Beans' and 'Before He Left the Family'
Patrick Allington is the inaugural ABR Patrons’ Fellow, his Fellowship essay 'What is Australia Anyway?: The Glorious Limitations of the Miles Franklin Literary Award’ appears in the June 2011 issue
Judith Bishop wins the renamed Peter Porter Poetry Prize for her poem 'Openings'

2010

Maria Takolander wins the first ABR Short Story Prize for her story ‘A Roānkin Philosophy of Poetry

2009

Michelle de Kretser is our first subject on Open Page
Mark Gomes becomes the first of many full-time paid interns

2008

Publication of the 300th issue in the second series. The issue includes a birthday feature with an Editorial from Peter Rose and tributes from contributors including Inga Clendinnen, Kerryn Goldsworthy, Richard Walsh, and Clive James.

2007

Elisabeth Holdsworth wins the first Calibre Essay Prize for her essay 'An die nachgeborenen: For those who come after'

2005

Flinders University becomes a sponsor
Stephen Edgar wins the first ABR Poetry Prize for his poem 'Man on the Moon'

2003

Former Editor Kerryn Goldsworthy reflects on the early years of ABR for the 250th issue in the second series

2002

La Trobe University becomes principal sponsor

2001

Peter Rose becomes the sixth Editor
ABR begins publishing new poems
Peter Porter writes at length about Sylvia Plath and Ted Hughes

2000

Tributes to Helen Daniel in the November issue
Aviva Tuffield wins the ABR Reviewing Competition

1998

With the closure of the National Book Council,  ABR becomes fully independent
Publication of the 200th issue in the second series
ABR moves to Richmond from Carlton

1995

Helen Daniel becomes the fifth Editor; forum on the Helen Demidenko controversy

1991

David Malouf reviews David Marr’s biography of Patrick White
Robert Dessaix’s influential essay on multiculturalism, ‘Nice Work If You Can Get It’

1989

Rosemary Sorensen becomes the fourth Editor, succeeding Louise Adler

1988

In the 100th issue Manning Clark reviews Kate Grenville’s Joan Makes History

1986

Kerryn Goldsworthy becomes the second Editor

1978

Australian Book Review is revived, with John McLaren as Editor

1982

John Gorton writes about six Australian prime ministers

1961

Australian Book Review is founded in Adelaide by Max Harris and Geoffrey Dutton. This first series, edited by Max Harris and Rosemary Wighton, ran until 1974.

Support ABR

16 March 2017 Written by Australian Book Review

Support the magazine that supports Australian writers!

ABR champions literature and the arts at a time when many writers’ and artists’ earnings are low. Our support for writers and reviewers takes many forms: increased payments, scrupulous editing, public advocacy, talks and workshops, and exposure to our international audience.

ABR seeks donations to further increase payments to writers, to expand our programs, and to foster brilliant new writing. Your donation – large or small – will help Australian writers.

ABR is an independent not-for-profit organisation fully dependent on money raised from subscribers, donors, foundations, government, and advertising. ABR is a bona-fide Deductible Gift Recipient (DGR). All donations of $2 or more are tax deductible and are much appreciated. Private support is essential for the continued growth of ABR

What do donations support?

Better payments for writers
Three annual literary prizes
Literary fellowships
Fiction and poetry in the magazine
Discounted subscriptions for young readers
National arts coverage through ABR Arts

To donate to ABR, click here.

To find out more about the ABR Patrons Program, click here.

To subscribe to ABR, click here.

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