‘Darwin’ shortlisted for prestigious literary award

A history of Darwin written by an Adjunct Professor with Charles Darwin University’s Northern Institute has been shortlisted for the Victorian Premier’s Literary Award for 2015.

“Darwin”, is one of six finalists in the prestigious award’s non-fiction category. Published in 2014 by New South Books, it was one of a series commissioned on Australia’s capital cities by prominent Australian writers.

“Darwin” is the only book from the series to be nominated for the Victorian Premier’s Literary award.

Dr Lea said she was thrilled that a book about Australia's least-known capital city was even in contention; but then again, Darwin was a city Australians needed to know.

“After all, key parts of the country's future are unfolding in this climate charged, strategically significant and still-frontier place,” Dr Lea said.

“It’s fitting, too, that a book that starts with Cyclone Tracy is shortlisted on the eve of Tracy’s 40th anniversary.”

Darwin-born Dr Lea is an Adjunct Professor with CDU’s Northern Institute and an Australian Research Council QEII Fellow at the University of Sydney. In a recent interview with CDU’s “Origins” magazine she said “Darwin” was a “book she had to write” and described it as “an ode to her hometown”.

The Victorian Premier’s Literary Awards will be announced in January 2015.

To vote for “Darwin” as the People's Choice award visit: wheelercentre.com/victorian-premier-s-literary-awards-2015

Read Origins magazine interview with Professor Tess Lea: www.cdu.edu.au/sites/default/files/mace/docs/origins-2-2014.pdf