Highlights from the 2023 Miles Franklin Literary Award winner announcement
Media Release
Shankari Chandran has won the prestigious Miles Franklin Literary Award for her novel, Chai Time at Cinnamon Gardens, published by Ultimo Press.
On winning the award, Chandran said: “It’s such an honour to win the Miles Franklin Literary Award, honestly, I’m still in shock. To be recognised among my Australian writing peers in this way is extraordinary. It means so much to me that Chai Time at Cinnamon Gardens, a novel that explores what it means to ‘be Australian’, has been recognised in this way.”
Established through the will of My Brilliant Career author, Stella Miles Franklin, for the “advancement, improvement and betterment of Australian literature”, the Miles Franklin Literary Award recognises a novel of “the highest literary merit” that presents “Australian life in any of its phases”. Perpetual serves as Trustee for the Award.
Perpetual’s Managing Partner Community, Social and ESG Investment, Caitriona Fay, said: “Since 1957 the Miles Franklin Literary Award has shone a spotlight on not only the wonderful literary talent we have in Australia, but also, the way in which an individual can leave a lasting legacy on a community and an industry. Miles’ will left provision for the foundation of this Award, and more than 65 years later it continues to impact and shape the lives of many.”
Chandran will receive $60,000 in prize money.
When describing this year’s winning novel, the judges said, “Chai Time at Cinnamon Gardens is alive with character, dialogue and action. With enormous skill Chandran recounts a solemn history, largely through a cast of squabbling, endearing elders, and invites us to open our hearts and minds: ‘If you read the literature of a country…you will understand it; you will fall in love with it.’”
The 2023 judging panel comprised of author and literary critic, Dr Bernadette Brennan; literary scholar and translator, Dr Mridula Nath Chakraborty; book critic, Dr James Ley; NSW Mitchell Librarian and Chair, Richard Neville; and author and editor, Dr Elfie Shiosaki.
The award was announced at a ceremony at The Ovolo Hotel in Sydney on 25 July.
The award’s media partner for 2023 is the ABC.
For further information about the Miles Franklin Literary Award: http://www.milesfranklin.com.au/
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Jane Morey, Morey Media
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