The Australian/Vogel Literary Award
A Place Near Eden by Melbourne writer Nell Pierce has won this year’s $20,000 Australian/Vogel’s Literary Award, for an unpublished manuscript by an author under the age of 35.
Described by the publisher Allen & Unwin as ‘part absorbing mystery, part riveting family drama’, A Place Near Eden explores themes of truth and memory. The question of how we can know the truth of our own lives troubles Matilda as she looks back on her time with her foster brother, Sem, remembering him disappearing for hours, then days, and then a car coming to take Sem away.
Now in its 42nd year, the Australian/Vogel’s prize has launched the career of Australian authors Tim Winton and Kate Grenville among others. In 2021 the prize was awarded to Now That I See You by Canberra author Emma Batchelor.